Prahova County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploiești.

Demographics In 2011, it had a population of 762,886 and the population density was 161/km2. It is Romania's third most populated county (after the Municipality of Bucharest and Iași County), having a population density double that of the country's mean.

Romanians - 97.74%National Institute of Statistics, "Populația după etnie" Romas and others - 2.26%

Year County populationNational Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002" 1948 557,776 1956 623,817 () 1966 701,057 () 1977 817,168 () 1992 873,229 () 2002 829,945 () 2011 762,886 () 2021 695,119 ()

The county received an inflow of population who have moved here due to the industrial development.

Geography This county has a total area of 4,716 km2.

The relief is split in approximately equal parts between the mountains, the hills and the plain. In the North side there are mountains from the southern end of the Eastern Carpathians - the Curvature Carpathians group; and the Bucegi Mountains the Eastern end of the Southern Carpathians group. The two groups are separated by the Prahova River Valley.

The south side of the county is a plain, on the North West side of the Romanian Plain.

The main river is the eponymous Prahova River. It flows from the mountains, through the Prahova Valley collecting many other rivers - the Doftana River, the Teleajen River and others.

Neighbours

Buzău County in the East. Dâmbovița County in the West. Brașov County in the North. Ialomița County and Ilfov County in the South.

Economy The area contains the main oil reserves in Romania, with a longstanding tradition in extracting and refining the oil. The county is heavily industrialised, with over 115,000 residents working in industrial environments. It contributes to over 8% of the country's industrial production. Some of the biggest international corporations like Coca-Cola, Unilever, InBev, Johnson Controls, Cameron, Weatherford, Michelin, Timken and others have invested heavily in the recent years.

The predominant industries in the county are: Oil industry - almost 50% of the county's industrial production. Oil extracting equipment. Chemical industry. Rubber industry. Mechanical components industry. Food and beverages industry. Textile industry.

Agriculture is also developed — in the southern part mainly extensive agriculture and the hills area is well suited for wines and fruit orchards. In total it realises about 3% of the country's agricultural production.

Tourism The Prahova Valley is one of the areas with the highest tourist potential in the country having one of the best tourism facilities in Romania.

The main tourist destinations are: On the Prahova Valley: The Sinaia Resort. The Bușteni Resort. The Azuga Resort. The Bucegi Mountains. On the Teleajen River Valley: The Vălenii de Munte Resort. Cheia. Slănic. The Zăganul Mountains The Ciucaș Mountains. On the Doftana River Valley: The Telega Resort. Valea Doftanei. The Gârbova Mountains. The city of Ploiești. The city of Câmpina.

Politics

The Prahova County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:

    Party Seats Current County Council   PNL-USR PLUS Alliance 20                                           Alliance For Prahova (PSD) 11                                           People's Movement Party (PMP) 3                                           Prahova In Action Party 2                                        

Administrative divisions Prahova County has 2 municipalities, 12 towns and 90 communes

Municipalities Câmpina - population: 32,935 (as of 2011) Ploiești - capital city; population: 209,945 (as of 2011)

Towns

Azuga Băicoi Boldești-Scăeni Breaza Bușteni Comarnic Mizil Plopeni Sinaia Slănic Urlați Vălenii de Munte

Communes

Adunați Albești-Paleologu Aluniș Apostolache Ariceștii Rahtivani Ariceștii Zeletin Baba Ana Balta Doamnei Bălțești Bănești Bărcănești Bătrâni Berceni Bertea Blejoi Boldești-Grădiștea Brazi Brebu Bucov Călugăreni Cărbunești Ceptura Cerașu Chiojdeanca Ciorani Cocorăștii Mislii Cocorăștii Colț Colceag Cornu Cosminele Drăgănești Drajna Dumbrava Dumbrăvești Filipeștii de Pădure Filipeștii de Târg Fântânele Florești Fulga Gherghița Gorgota Gornet Gornet-Cricov Gura Vadului Gura Vitioarei Iordăcheanu Izvoarele Jugureni Lapoș Lipănești Măgurele Măgureni Măneciu Mănești Olari Păcureți Păulești Plopu Podenii Noi Poiana Câmpina Poienarii Burchii Posești Predeal-Sărari Provița de Jos Provița de Sus Puchenii Mari Râfov Salcia Sălciile Scorțeni Secăria Sângeru Șirna Șoimari Șotrile Starchiojd Ștefești Surani Talea Tătaru Teișani Telega Tinosu Târgșoru Vechi Tomșani Vadu Săpat Valea Călugărească Valea Doftanei Vărbilău Vâlcănești

Historical county

Historically, the county was located in the south central part of Greater Romania, in the central part of the historical region of Muntenia. Its capital was Ploiești (then spelt Ploești). The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Prahova County, except the town of Mizil and several nearby villages that were then in Buzău County. In addition to the current county's territory, the interwar county contained several communes in its western part (including Dărmănești, I.L. Caragiale, and Moreni), currently in Dâmbovița County, and some territory northwest of Predeal, now in Brașov County.

Administration

The county was originally divided into seven administrative districts (plăși):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Prahova

Plasa Câmpina, headquartered at Câmpina Plasa Drăgănești, headquartered at Drăgănești Plasa Filipești, headquartered at Filipești Plasa Ploiești, headquartered at Ploești Plasa Sinaia, headquartered at Sinaia Plasa Urlați, headquartered at Urlați Plasa Văleni, headquartered at Văleni

Subsequently, the county established three more districts:Plasa Câmpu, headquartered at Câmpu Plasa Podgoria, headquartered at Podgoria Plasa Vărbilău, headquartered at Vărbilău

Population According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 477,750 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 95.0% Romanians, 1.5% Gypsies, 0.9% Jews, 0.8% Hungarians, 0.7% Germans, as well as other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 338-339 From the religious point of view, the population was 96.0% Eastern Orthodox, 1.2% Roman Catholic, 1.0% Jewish, 0.6% Lutherans, 0.5% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 690

Urban population In 1930, the county's urban population was 105,098 inhabitants, comprising 88.8% Romanians, 3.5% Jews, 1.9% Hungarians, 1.7% Germans, 1.4% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 89.2% Eastern Orthodox, 3.6% Jewish, 3.3% Roman Catholic, 1.5% Lutheran, 1.3% Greek Catholic, 0.6% Reformed, as well as other minorities.

See also Prahova River Prahova Valley

References

External links