Bacău County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in Western Moldavia, with its capital city at Bacău. It has one commune, Ghimeș-Făget, in Transylvania.
Geography This county has a total area of .
In the western part of the county there are mountains from the Eastern Carpathian group. Here, along the valleys of the Oituz River and Trotuș River, there are two important links between Moldavia and Transylvania. On the East side, the heights decrease and the lowest point can be found on the Siret River valley which crosses the county from North to South down the middle. On the East side there is the Moldavian Plateau crossed by many small rivers.
Climate The climate is temperate-continental with excessive nuances in the East and moderate ones in the West, featuring marked altitudinal differences. The average annual temperature varies between 2°C in the mountain zone, 8°C in the sub-Carpathian and plateau regions, and 9–10°C in the Siret River meadow. The absolute maximum temperature, and the absolute minimum were both recorded in Bacău, being 42.5 °C (7 August 2012) and -32.5 °C (20 February 1954). The amount of precipitation shows variations in relation to the relief units, reaching average annual values between 550 mm in the eastern part of the county and 1,100 mm on the mountain ridges in the West. The predominant direction of the winds denotes an accentuated frequency of air circulation from the North, Northwest, and Northeast, with their average annual speed varying between 4 and 6 m/s, and higher speeds recorded during the winter.
Flora and fauna Bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, and squirrels inhabit Bacău County's mountains, particularly in its rural Slănic-Moldova region; the remnants of the local deer are preserved in Mănăstirea Cașin.Network of small rural communities of energetic neutrality (RURENER) (Archived from the original), Slănic-Moldova - RURENER Case Study, European Commission, retrieved 24 July 2019. Archived at the Wayback Machine
Neighbours
Vaslui County in the East. Harghita County and Covasna County in the West. Neamț County in the North. Vrancea County in the South.
Economy The county of Bacău was one of the most industrialized regions in the communist period and it remained Moldavia's most important industrial center ever since. There are two large oil refineries at Onești and Dărmănești. Following the collapse of the communist regime, Bacău continued to be the region's most important GDP supplier, but the county became more famous for the controversial figures involved in the local economy than for its performance.
The predominant industries in the county are: The chemical and oil industry. Food industry. Construction materials industry. Wood and paper industry. Textile industry. Mechanical components industry. Aeronautics industry.
In Bacău County there are important reserves of oil and salt. Coal is also exploited.
Tourism The main tourist destinations in the county are: The cities of Bacău and Onești. Resorts: Poiana Sărată Poiana Uzului Slănic-Moldova Târgu Ocna The .
Demographics
Year County populationNational Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992, 2002 și 2011" Population density Romanians Romani people Hungarians 1948 414,996 1956 507,937 1966 598,321 1977 667,791 1992 737,512 2002 706,623 113 / km2 97.5% 1.7% 0.7% 2011 616,168 93 / km2 96.1% 1.7% 0.68% 2021 601,387 91 / km2
Some estimates put the total number of Csángós at around 70,000 in 1987.1987 estimate published in: Tennant, Chris (transl.) (1994) The Hungarian minority’s situation in Ceaușescu's Romania. Boulder: Social Science Monographs. p. 33.
Politics The Bacău County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 36 councilors, with the following party composition:
Party Seats Current County Council Social Democratic Party (PSD) 15 National Liberal Party (PNL) 12 Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) 5 United Right Alliance (ADU) 4
People Gabriela Adameșteanu Vasile Alecsandri George Bacovia Radu Beligan Nadia Comăneci Loredana Groza Ioan Măric Vasile Pârvan Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu Radu R. Rosetti Tristan Tzara Nicu Enea
Administrative divisions
Bacău County has 3 municipalities, 5 towns, and 85 communes Municipalities Bacău – capital city; population: 136,087 (as of 2021) Moinești Onești Towns Buhuși Comănești Dărmănești Slănic-Moldova Târgu Ocna
Communes Agăș Ardeoani Asău Balcani Berești-Bistrița Berești-Tazlău Berzunţi Bârsănești Blăgești Bogdănești Brusturoasa Buciumi Buhoci Cașin Căiuți Cleja Colonești Corbasca Coțofănești Dămienești Dealu Morii Dofteana Faraoani Filipeni Filipești Găiceana Ghimeș-Făget Gârleni Glăvănești Gioseni Gura Văii Helegiu Hemeiuș Huruiești Horgești Izvoru Berheciului Itești Letea Veche Lipova Livezi Luizi-Călugăra Măgirești Măgura Mănăstirea Cașin Mărgineni Motoșeni Negri Nicolae Bălcescu Odobești Oituz Oncești Orbeni Palanca Parava Pâncești Parincea Pârgărești Pârjol Plopana Podu Turcului Poduri Prăjești Racova Răcăciuni Răchitoasa Roșiori Sascut Sănduleni Sărata Săucești Scorțeni Secuieni Solonț Stănișești Strugari Ștefan cel Mare Tamași Tătărăști Târgu Trotuș Traian Ungureni Urechești Valea Seacă Vultureni Zemeș
Politics Bacău became famous after electing Ilie Ilașcu of the Greater Romania Party as their Senator, while he was held in prison in Transnistria.
Historical county
Between the world wars, Bacău County had a different territorial extent. The county was located in the east central part of Greater Romania, in the center of Moldavia. Its territory included the central part of the current Bacău County. It bordered on the west with the counties of Trei Scaune and Ciuc, in the north with Neamț and Roman counties, in the east with the counties of Tutova and Tecuci, and in the south with Putna County.
Administration The county was originally divided into five districts (plăși):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Bacău Plasa Bistrița Plasa Muntele, headquartered in Moinești Plasa Oituz, headquartered in Oituz Plasa Siret, headquartered in Siret Plasa Tazlău, headquartered in Tazlău
Subsequently, two more districts were established: Plasa Răcăciuni, headquartered in Răcăciuni Plasa Traian, headquartered in Traian
Population According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 260,781, comprising 88.6% Romanians, 5.3% Jews, 3.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 30 From the religious point of view, 75.8% were Eastern Orthodox, 18.1% Roman Catholics, 5.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 536-541
Urban population In 1930, the county's urban population was 50,342, of which 70.1% were Romanians, 23.9% were Jews, 2.2% were Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From a religious point of view, the urban population consisted of 64.9% Eastern Orthodox, 24.4% Jewish, 9.3% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.
References