Harghita County

Harghita County (Romanian: Județul Harghita, Romanian pronunciation: [harˈɡita] ⓘ and Hungarian: Hargita megye, pronounced [ˈhɒrɡitɒ]) is a county (județ) in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea Ciuc.

Harghita County
Județul Harghita
Hargita megye
County
Landscape around Lake Sfânta Ana, southern Harghita County
Landscape around Lake Sfânta Ana, southern Harghita County
Coat of arms of Harghita County
Coat of arms
Harghita county, territorial location
Harghita county, territorial location
Country Romania
Development region1Centru
Historic regionTransylvania
Capital city (Reședință de județ)Miercurea Ciuc
Government
 • TypeCounty Board
 • President of the County BoardCsaba Borboly (RMDSZ)
 • Prefect2Ion Proca
Area
 • Total6,639 km2 (2,563 sq mi)
 • Rank13th in Romania
Population
 (2021-12-01)[1]
 • Total291,950
 • Rank33rd in Romania
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
53wxyz3
Area code+40 x664
Car PlatesHR5
GDPUS$1.840 billion (2015)
GDP per capitaUS$6,033 (2015)
WebsiteCounty Board
County Prefecture
1The developing regions of Romania have no administrative role. They were formed just to attract funds from the European Union
2 as of 2007, the Prefect is not a politician, but a public functionary. The Prefect is not allowed to be a member of a political party, and is banned from having any political activity in the first six months after the resignation (or exclusion) from the public functionary corps
3w, x, y, and z are digits that indicate the city, the street, part of the street, or even the building of the address
4x is a digit indicating the operator: 2 for the former national operator, Romtelecom, and 3 for the other ground telephone networks
5used on both the plates of the vehicles that operate only in the county limits (like utility vehicles, ATVs, etc.), and the ones used outside the county

Demographics

2002 census

In 2002, Harghita County had a population of 326,222[2] and a population density of 52/km2.

2011 census

In 2011, it had a population of 302,432[4] and a population density of 46/km2.

2021 census

In 2021, it had a population of 291,950, and a population density of 43/km2.


Harghita county has the highest percentage of Hungarians in Romania, just ahead of Covasna county. The Hungarians form the majority of the population in most of the county's municipalities, with Romanians concentrated in the northern and eastern part of the county (particularly Toplița and Bălan), as well as in the enclave of Voșlăbeni.

The Székelys of Harghita are mostly Roman Catholic, with Reformed and Unitarian minorities, while the ethnic Romanians are primarily Orthodox. Catholicism is strongest in the east, in the former Csíkszék, while Protestants are concentrated in the west, south and west of Odorheiu Secuiesc. By religion, the county is divided roughly as follows:

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1930250,194—    
1948258,495+0.18%
1956273,964+0.73%
1966282,392+0.30%
1977326,310+1.32%
1992347,637+0.42%
2002326,222−0.63%
2011304,969−0.75%
2021291,950−0.44%

Geography

Harghita County has a total area of 6,639 km2.

Harghita consists primarily of mountains, connected to the Eastern Carpathians, such as the Ciuc and Harghita Mountains; volcanic plateaux, foothills, and the more densely populated river valleys.

The mountains are volcanic in origin, and the region is known for its excellent hot mineral springs. Harghita is known as one of the coldest regions in Romania, although summers can be quite warm.

It is in this county that two of the most important rivers in Romania, the Mureș and the Olt, originate. These rivers' origins, near the villages of Izvoru Mureșului and Sândominic, are only a few miles apart; yet the Mureș flows west to the Tisza, while the Olt flows south to the Danube. In the western part of the county the two Târnava rivers (Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică) flow to the Târnava Plateau, which is part of the Transylvanian Plateau.

Harghita's spectacular natural scenery includes Sfânta Ana Lake, a volcanic crater lake near the town of Băile Tușnad; Lacul Roșu a mountain lake in the northeast near the town of Gheorgheni, and Cheile Bicazului, a dramatic, narrow canyon formed by the Bicaz stream. The county is renowned for its spa resorts and mineral waters.

Neighbours
Romanian Counties

Economy

The county's main industries:

  • Wood industry – up to 30%;
  • Foods and beverages industry;
  • Textile and leather processing;
  • Mechanical components.

Tourism
Lacul Roșu

The main tourist attractions in Harghita county are

Politics

The Harghita County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 30 counsellors, with the following party composition:[6]

    Party Seats Current Council
  Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ) 19                                      
  Hungarian Alliance Of Transylvania 4                                      
  Social Democratic Party (PSD) 3                                      
  National Liberal Party (PNL) 2                                      
  Party Of Free People 2                                      

Administrative divisions
Miercurea Ciuc
Băile Tușnad

Harghita County has 4 municipalities, 5 towns and 58 communes

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harghita County.
  1. "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  2. National Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002" Archived 22 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  3. National Institute of Statistics, "Populația după etnie" Archived 16 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine ("Population by ethnicity")
  4. National Institute of Statistics,
  5. "Recensamantul Populatiei si Locuintelor 2011: Populația stabilă după etnie – județe, municipii, orașe, comune". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  6. "Rezultatele finale ale alegerilor locale din 2020" (Json) (in Romanian). Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă. Retrieved 2 November 2020.

46.36°N 25.80°E / 46.36; 25.80

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