Nógrád (, ; ) is a county () of Hungary. It sits on the northern edge of Hungary and borders Slovakia.
Description Nógrád county lies in northern Hungary. It shares borders with Slovakia and the Hungarian counties Pest, Heves and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. The capital of Nógrád county is Salgótarján. Its area is . It is the smallest county by population and the second smallest by area (after Komárom-Esztergom).
Nógrád is famous for its historic architecture of ancient Gothic churches and stone castles dated to the 13th century. Some historic landmarks includes the Salgó Castle and several baroque buildings constructed in the 18th century and the Vay, Teleki. Much of the northern border of the county is formed by the river Ipoly. The mountain ranges Börzsöny, Cserhát and Mátra lie partly in the county.
Due to the mountains, the county is characterised by small villages nestled in the valleys. The two largest settlements are Balassagyarmat, the former county seat, and Salgótarján, which has become a center of industry in the early 20th century due to coal mines nearby.
History
Nógrád (, or , ) was also the name of a historic administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. The name stems from the former Nógrád castle ( - this name is still used in Slovakia as well as the informal designation of the corresponding territory, now located in southern Slovakia and in northern Hungary). In turn, Novohrad means "new castle" in Slovak.
Demographics
The population of Nógrád County was 182,459 as of the 2022 Census, with a population density of 72 individuals per square kilometer (72/km2). The number of households was 75,526 and the number of families was 49,077. Since the 2011 Census, the population decreased by 19,968 (-9.9%).
Ethnicity In the 2022 Census, the vast majority (86.3%) of the population identified as Hungarian. A minority of 7.8% identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 11.3% of the population did not respond. The ethnic groups most identified with were Romani (5.8%), Slovak (1.2%), and German (0.4%). Small numbers identified as other domestic ethnic groups (390) or other groups (421).
In the 2011 Census, 85.4% of the population identified as Hungarian. Nearly a tenth (9.6%) of the population identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 13.0% did not respond. Romani made up 7.5% of the population, Slovak 1.3%, and German (0.5%). Small numbers identified as other domestic ethnic groups (407) or other groups (308).
Religion
In the 2022 Census, just over half of the population (51.4%) were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (42.5%). Other communities included Lutheran (3.4%), Calvinist (2.0%), Greek Catholic (0.3%), Other Christian denomination (2.1%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers (less than 100) were affiliated with Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. The non-religious made up 12.2% of the population. More than a third (36.4%) of the population did not respond.
In the 2011 Census, 63.4% of the population were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (55.4%). Others included Lutheran (3.9%), Calvinist (2.1%), Greek Catholic (0.2%), Other Christian denomination (1.6%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers (less than 100) were affiliated with Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. Atheists made up (0.9%) of the population and other non-religious made up 12.2%. Nearly a quarter (23.5%) of the population did not respond.
In 1930, the population was 85.6% Roman Catholic, 9.4% Lutheran, 2.8% Jewish, 1.9% Calvinist, and others (0.3%).
Regional structure
No. English andHungarian names Area (km2) Population (2022) Density (pop./km2) Seat No. ofmunicipalities1Balassagyarmat District Balassagyarmati járás 532.94 36,606 69Balassagyarmat292Bátonyterenye District Bátonyterenyei járás 215.45 18,878 88Bátonyterenye83Pásztó District Pásztói járás 551.56 29,415 53Pásztó264Rétság District Rétsági járás 435.03 24,222 56Rétság255Salgótarján District Salgótarjáni járás 525.23 55,769 106Salgótarján296Szécsény District Szécsényi járás 285.26 17,569 62Szécsény14 Nógrád County 2,545.48 182,459 72Salgótarján131
Politics
The Nógrád County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 15 counselors, with the following party composition:
Party Seats Current County Assembly Fidesz-KDNP 10 Our Homeland Movement 3 Democratic Coalition 1 Momentum Movement 1
Presidents of the General Assembly List of presidents since 1990Önkormányzati választások eredményei General Assembly websiteFerenc Korill (SZDSZ)1990–1994Sándor Smitnya (SZDSZ)1994–1998Zsolt Becsó (Fidesz)1998–2002Ottó Dóra (MSZP)2002–2006Zsolt Becsó (Fidesz-KDNP)2006–2014Nándor Skuczi (Fides-KDNP)2014–
Municipalities Nógrád County has 1 urban county, 5 towns and 125 villages.
City with county rights (ordered by population, as of 2011 census) Salgótarján (37,262) – county seat
Towns
Balassagyarmat (16,397) Bátonyterenye (12,841) Pásztó (9,689) Szécsény (5,962) Rétság (2,822)
Villages
Alsópetény Alsótold Bánk Bárna Becske Bercel Berkenye Bér Bokor Borsosberény Buják Cered Csécse Cserháthaláp Cserhátsurány Cserhátszentiván Csesztve Csitár Debercsény Dejtár Diósjenő Dorogháza Drégelypalánk Ecseg Egyházasdengeleg Egyházasgerge Endrefalva Erdőkürt Erdőtarcsa Érsekvadkert Etes Felsőpetény Felsőtold Galgaguta Garáb Herencsény Héhalom Hollókő Hont Horpács Hugyag Iliny Ipolyszög Ipolytarnóc Ipolyvece Jobbágyi Karancsalja Karancsberény Karancskeszi Karancslapujtő Karancsság Kazár Kálló Keszeg Kétbodony Kisbágyon Kisbárkány Kisecset Kishartyán Kozárd Kutasó Legénd Litke Lucfalva Ludányhalászi Magyargéc Magyarnándor Márkháza Mátramindszent Mátranovák Mátraszele Mátraszőlős Mátraterenye Mátraverebély Mihálygerge Mohora Nagybárkány Nagykeresztúr Nagylóc Nagyoroszi Nemti Nézsa Nógrád Nógrádkövesd Nógrádmarcal Nógrádmegyer Nógrádsáp Nógrádsipek Nógrádszakál Nőtincs Őrhalom Ősagárd Palotás Patak Patvarc Piliny Pusztaberki Rákóczibánya Rimóc Romhány Ságújfalu Sámsonháza Somoskőújfalu Sóshartyán Szalmatercs Szanda Szarvasgede Szátok Szendehely Szente Szécsénke Szécsényfelfalu Szilaspogony Szirák Szuha Szurdokpüspöki Szügy Tar Terény Tereske Tolmács Vanyarc Varsány Vizslás Zabar
Gallery
Notes
References
External links Official site in Hungarian Nógrád Megyei Hírlap (nhc24.hu) - The county portal