Hârșova

Hârșova (also spelled Hîrșova; Romanian pronunciation: [ˈhɨrʃova]; Turkish: Hırsova; Bulgarian: Хърсово, Harsovo) is a town located on the right bank of the Danube, in Constanța County, Northern Dobruja, Romania.

For the village in Vaslui County, see Delești.
Hârșova
Town
Coat of arms of Hârșova
Coat of arms
Location in Constanța County
Location in Constanța County
Hârșova is located in Romania
Hârșova
Hârșova
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 44°41′0″N 27°57′7″E
CountryRomania
CountyConstanța
SubdivisionsVadu Oii
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Viorel Ionescu[1] (PNL)
Area
109.02 km2 (42.09 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (70 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
8,737
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
905400
Area code(+40) 02 41
Vehicle reg.CT
Websitewww.primaria-harsova.ro

The village of Vadu Oii is administered by the town. The village is linked with Giurgeni commune over the Danube via the Giurgeni-Vadu Oii Bridge.

Etymology

The relationship between the current name of Hârșova and the ancient name of the city, Carsium has long been a matter of debate among historians and linguists.[3] According to Iorgu Iordan the ancient name may have been kept under the influence of the Slavic word Круш, cliff, rock.[3]

The current name may also derive from the ancient Slavic god Hârs (Хърс) and Slavic suffix "-ova" and it is still under debate whether it is in any way linked with the ancient name, or perhaps a common proto-indo-european root related to "ecstasy"/"desire", ultimately also related to the vedic rta and avestan arta.[4]

History

In ancient times, a Roman settlement named Carsium, belonging to the Scythia Minor province, lay on the current site of the town. In 1570 (Hijri 977) the castle town had 69 guards, 71 Muslim households and 84 Christian households and it was a "has" of Mehmet Bey, the mirliva of Silistra.[5]

In 1853, The Times of London reported that "Hirsova"

is defended by a fortified castle, and has a garrison of about 2,000 men. This place was taken by the Russians in 1809 and 1828. Though small, it is of considerable importance from its position on the very spot where the Berchicha returns to the Danube. . . . It is in many parts inundated, but has good pasturage for the excellent horses which constitute the sole wealth of the Tartars who inhabit it.[6]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1912 3,990—    
1930 3,665−8.1%
1948 3,762+2.6%
1956 4,761+26.6%
1966 7,519+57.9%
1977 8,239+9.6%
1992 10,394+26.2%
2002 11,198+7.7%
2011 9,642−13.9%
2021 8,737−9.4%
Source: Census data

At the 2021 census, Hârșova had a population of 8,737.[7] At the 2011 census, the town had 9,642 residents; of those, 7,476 were Romanians (84.47%), 6 Hungarians (0.07%), 490 Roma (5.54%), 829 Turks (9.37%), 9 Tatars (0.10%), 27 Lipovans (0.31%), 4 others (0.05%), and 9 with undeclared ethnicity (0.10%).

Natives
  • Ruins of Carsium
    Ruins of Carsium
  • Ruins of Carsium
    Ruins of Carsium
  • Lipovan Church
    Lipovan Church
  • Residential buildings in Hârșova
    Residential buildings in Hârșova
  • Houses burned down by Bulgarian troops in 1916, during the Romanian Campaign of World War I
    Houses burned down by Bulgarian troops in 1916, during the Romanian Campaign of World War I

See also

References
  1. "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  3. Iordan, Iorgu (1963). Toponimia romînească. Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne. p. 89. OCLC 460710897.
  4. Constantine Borissoff, Non-Iranian origin of the Eastern-Slavonic god Xŭrsŭ/Xors, November 2014
  5. GÖKBİLGİN, M. TAYYİB (1956). "KANUNÎ SULTAN SÜLEYMAN DEVRİ BAŞLARINDA RUMELİ EYALETİ, LİVALARI, ŞEHİR VE KASABALARI". BELLETEN. 20 (78): 267. eISSN 2791-6472. ISSN 0041-4255 – via BELLETEN.
  6. "The Seat of War on the Danube," The Times, December 29, page 8
  7. "Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (in Romanian). INSSE. 31 May 2023.
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