# Căușeni District

Căușeni District (Romanian: Raionul Căușeni, pronunciation: [kə.uˈʃenʲ]) is a district in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Căușeni. The other major city in the district is Căinari. According to the 2014 Moldovan Census, the population of the district is 81,185.

## History

The Căușeni District was the first district of Moldova to be recorded in 1455. The next localities of the region to be recorded were: Zaim, Cîrnățeni, Fîrlădeni, but not until the period 1535–1573. In the 16th-18th centuries, intensive agriculture and wine-making industries developed and population grew as a consequence. In 1761, in Căuşeni city, the Assumption Church was built with beautiful painted frescoes on the inside walls. In 1812, after the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812), Bessarabia was occupied by the Russian Empire until 1917. During this period there was an intense Russification of the native population. In 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia united with Romania. From 1918–1940 and again from 1941–1944 during the German occupation, the district became part of Tighina County. After the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Bessarabia was occupied by the USSR in June 1940. In 1991 as a result of the proclamation of the Independence of Moldova, part of Căușeni District joined with Tighina County (1991–2003). In 2003 the district became an administrative unit of Moldova.

## Geography

Căușeni District is located in the southern part of Moldova. It is bordered by the following districts: Ialoveni and Anenii Noi in the north, Slobozia District in the east, Ștefan Vodă District in the south-east, bordering in the south with Ukraine, and Cimișlia District in the west. The relief of the land is mostly flat, with maximum altitudes of 220–230 metres. The minimum altitude is 20–30 metres on the Lower Dniester plain. The land has a low intensity of erosion.

### Climate

The district has a continental climate with an annual average district temperature of 11 °C (52 °F). The July average temperature is 23 °C (73 °F), and in January it is −4 °C (25 °F). Annual precipitation 450–550 mm. Average wind speed is 2–5 metres/second.

### Fauna

Typical European fauna, with the presence of such mammals such as foxes, hedgehogs, deer, wild boar, polecat, wild cat, ermine. and others. Of birds there are: partridges, crows, eagles, starlings, swallows, and more.

### Flora

Forests of the district are composed of tree species such as oak, ash, hornbeam, linden, maple, walnut and others. Other common plants are: wormwood, knotweed, fescue, and nettle.

### Rivers

Căușeni district is located in the Dniester River basin, whose main tributary is the Botna River (152 km). Most lakes are artificial in origin.

## Administrative subdivisions

* Administrative center: Căușeni
* Localities: 48 (2 Cities and 46 Villages in 28 Communes)
** Cities: 2 (Căinari, Căușeni)
** Communes: 28
** Villages: 18

### Communes in Căușeni district

* Baccealia
* Baimaclia
* Chircăiești
* Chircăieștii Noi
* Cîrnățeni
* Cîrnățenii Noi
* Ciuflești
* Coșcalia
* Fîrlădeni
* Grădinița
* Grigorievca
* Hagimus
* Opaci
* Pervomaisc
* Plop-Știubei
* Săiți
* Sălcuța
* Tănătari
* Tănătarii Noi
* Taraclia
* Tocuz
* Ucrainca
* Ursoaia
* Zaim
* Copanca (claimed by Transnistria)
* Chițcani (controlled by Transnistria)
* Cremenciug (controlled by Transnistria)
* Gîsca (controlled by Transnistria)

## Demographics

As of 1 January 2012, the district population was 92,000, of which 26.5% was urban and 73.5% was rural population
* Births (2010): 1,088 (11.8 per 1000)
* Deaths (2010): 1,199 (13.0 per 1000)
* Growth rate (2010): -111 (-1.2 per 1000)

### Ethnic groups

| Ethnic group | % of total |
| Moldovans * | 87.0 |
| Romanians * | 5.4 |
| Russians | 3.5 |
| Ukrainians | 2.0 |
| Bulgarians | 1.2 |
| Gagauz | 0.7 |
| Other | 0.2 |
| Undeclared | 3.5 |
Footnote: * There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.

### Religion

* Christians - 98.5%
** Orthodox Christians - 97.1%
** Protestant - 1.4%
*** Baptists - 0.7%
*** Pentecostal - 0.5%
*** Seventh-day Adventists - 0.1%
*** Evangelicals - 0.1%
* Other 0.9%
* No religion 0.6%

## Economy

The main economic activities of the district are agriculture and manufacturing. Currently there are 15,721 registered companies in the district. The different types of manufacturing that predominate are: wine-making, processing of milk, bakery products, and other industries based on local raw materials. Total Agricultural land is 93,700 ha which is (80.5%) of the total land area. Of this agricultural land, the arable land occupies 70 600 ha (60.7%), of which there are 4,300 ha of orchards (3.7%) and 5,200 ha of vineyards (4.5%).

## Education

The district operates 69 educational institutions, including institutions of secondary education - 37 (14,960 students), kindergartens - 31 (3014 children), a creative center for children.

## Politics

Căușeni District has historically voted mainly for right-wing parties. In Moldova the district is represented by the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) has seen a continuous fall in the percentage of the vote during the last three elections.
During the last three elections the vote for the AEI has grown from 11,179 votes to 20,140 votes representing an increase of 80%.
Parliament elections results :
| Year | AEI | PCRM |
| 2010 | 51.58% 20,140 | 41.19% 16,082 |
| July 2009 | 50.27% 19,629 | 44.26% 17,281 |
| April 2009 | 30.03% 11,179 | 53.01% 19,733 |

### Elections

Summary of 28 November 2010 Parliament of Moldova election results in Causeni District :
| Parties and coalitions | Parties and coalitions | Votes | % | +/− |
| | Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova | 16,082 | 41.19 | −3.07 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova | 12,525 | 32.08 | +19.62 |
| | Democratic Party of Moldova | 4,725 | 12,10 | +3.13 |
| | Liberal Party | 2,515 | 6.44 | −5.68 |
| | European Action Movement | 835 | 2.14 | +2.14 |
| | United Moldova | 437 | 1.12 | +1.12 |
| | Other Party | 1,538 | 3.91 | -18.34 |
| Total (turnout 57.46%) | Total (turnout 57.46%) | 39,352 | 100.00 | |

## Culture

In the Căușeni District there are: 37 houses of culture, several folk bands with a Title 31 model, and 74 amateur artistic groups with a total of 1200 participants. There is a School of Arts in Căușeni city, a school of Music in both Căinari and Copanca, a museum of history and ethnography of Căușeni, the "Alexei Mateevici House Museum" in Zaim, and in Cainari, a Museum of history and ethnography in Copanca, and 45 public Libraries including 9 branches for children].

## Health

Health services are provided in Căușeni District through: a general fund hospital with 292 beds, 19 Magnetic field imaging (MFI) units, 13 health centres, 5 health points, and 13 clinical diagnostic laboratories.

## Tourism

* Assumption of Our Lady Church, Căușeni
* Trajan's Wall in villages Copanca and Chircăiești