# Șoldănești District

Șoldănești (Romanian pronunciation: [ʃoldəˈneʃtʲ]) is a district (Romanian: raion) in the north-east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Șoldănești. As of 2014, its population was 36,743.

## History

The localities with the earliest documentary attestation are Dobrușa, Olișcani, Răspopeni, and Salcia, which were certified in the period 1437–1448. The 16th–18th centuries were marked by continued economic (trade, crafts) and cultural (churches, monasteries) development, and a marked increase in population. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the region's economic decay occurs as a result of the constant wars led by Poland, the Ottoman Empire, and the Russian Empire for influence in the region. In 1812, the Treaty of Bucharest divided Bessarabia from the Principality of Moldova, the former being ceded to Russia. In 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Union of Bessarabia with Romania occurred. During the interwar period (1918–1940) the district was part of Soroca County, in the Kingdom of Romania. After the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, Bessarabia was occupied by the Soviet Union in June 1940. From 1941 to 1944 it was part of Romania again, and afterwards it became the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, as a result of the proclamation of the Independence of Moldova, the district became part of Soroca County (1991–2003), and in 2003 it became an administrative unit of Moldova.

## Geography

The Șoldănești district is located in north-eastern Moldova. It neighbors to north and west the Florești District, in the north-east the Camenca District, in the east the Rîbnița District, and in the south the Telenești and Rezina districts. The territory is located within the Dniester Plateau, the relief is moderately, fragmented and represented by plateaus, low hills and dales wide and hilly interfluvial shaped strings. Sometimes come across isolated dome-shaped hills. On the plateau widespread erosion and landslides occur. In the district high fertility soils are characterized by particularly prevalent in typical chernozem, leachates, and carbonated ordinary, gray and brown soil of forest closed. Average reliability of the soil according to the Land Register of the Republic of Moldova is 74-point average of districts of 63 points. Maximum altitude in the district is the hill Zahorna, with 338 m (1,109 ft).

### Climate

The climate is temperate continental, with average temperature in January −4.5 °C (24 °F), and 21 °C (70 °F) in July; the average annual precipitation is 500–560 mm. The average wind speed is 4–6 m/s.

### Fauna

The fauna of the district is typical of Central Europe; it is characterized by: foxes, hedgehogs, hares, wild boars, deer, wildcats, and wolves. Birds include: quail, egrets, hawks, storks, crows, seagulls, and others.

### Flora

Forests occupy 19.3% of the district and are complemented by oak, ash, lime, hornbeam, acacia, and others. Plants include: nettle, fescue, clover, wormwood, bells, and others.

### Natural resources

The main mineral resources located in the district are metallic resources. Most of the stock is near Mihuleni – limestone. Olișcani deposits – gravel. Șoldănești, Olișcani, Mihuleni, Vadul-Rașcov – clay. Alcedar, Dobrușa, Răspopeni – sand.

### Rivers

The district is located in the Nistru River basin; the river Ciorna is the main river in the district. There are many sources of drinking water; groundwater is at depths between 0.5 m and 10–15 m.

## Administrative subdivisions

* Localities: 33
** Administrative center: Șoldănești
*** Cities: Șoldănești
**** Villages: 10
***** Communes: 22

## Demographics

1 January 2012 the district population was 43,000, of which 17.5% urban and 82.5% rural population.
* Births (2010): 536 (12.3 per 1000)
* Deaths (2010): 720 (16.6 per 1000)
* Growth Rate (2010): -184 (−4.2 per 1000)

### Ethnic groups

| Ethnic group | % of total |
| Moldovans * | 93.9 |
| Romanians * | 3.2 |
| Ukrainians | 1.8 |
| Russians | 0.7 |
| Romani | 0.1 |
| Other | 0.1 |
| Undeclared | 0.18 |
Footnote: * There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.

### Religion

* Christians – 98.9%
** Orthodox Christians – 98.2%
** Protestant – 0.7%
*** Seventh-day Adventists – 0.3%
*** Pentecostals – 0.2%
*** Baptists – 0.1
*** Evangelicals – 0.1%
* Other – 0.8%
* No Religion – 0.3%

## Economy

Being a predominantly agricultural district, the main efforts are focused on supporting and developing priority directions of agriculture. Arable land constitutes – 32 351 ha (54.4%), perennial plantations – 3544 ha (5.9%), pastures – 4761 ha (8.0%). Industrial enterprises of all types of ownership manufactured in January–September 2010 production of 6.846 million lei worth at current prices. The volume index of industrial production from January–September 2009 was (in comparable prices) 96.6%.

## Education

In the district there are 31 educational institutions working with 5,242 students. In the educational institutions operating in the district there are currently 509 teachers. Preschool – 28, children in kindergarten – 1,458, teachers – 152.

## Politics

The Șoldănești district is a district with a preponderance of right-wing parties. AEI get good results here, but PCRM is in a constant percentage decrease. During 2001–2009, the district was a predominantly communist (over 50%). District is one of the founding members of Euroregion Dniester.
During the last three elections AEI had an increase of 76.6%
Parliament elections results :
| Year | AEI | PCRM |
| 2010 | 52.19% 10,382 | 40.95% 8,145 |
| July 2009 | 49.10% 9,467 | 44.90% 8,657 |
| April 2009 | 30.70% 5,879 | 55.54% 10,634 |

### Elections

Summary of 28 November 2010 Parliament of Moldova election results in Șoldănești District :
| Parties and coalitions | Parties and coalitions | Votes | % | +/− |
| | Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova | 8,145 | 40.95 | −3.95 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova | 6,310 | 31.72 | +17.91 |
| | Democratic Party of Moldova | 2,486 | 12.50 | -0.16 |
| | Liberal Party | 1,239 | 6.23 | −2.27 |
| | European Action Movement | 408 | 2.05 | +2.05 |
| | Party Alliance Our Moldova | 347 | 1.74 | −12.39 |
| | Christian Democratic People's Party | 313 | 1.57 | −2.58 |
| | Other Party | 650 | 3.24 | +1.39 |
| Total (turnout 60.94%) | Total (turnout 60.94%) | 20,082 | 100.00 | |

## Culture

The district works: amateur artistic groups – 124, of which 13 bands as "model", public libraries – 34 of them five children, schools of music – 2, the school district fine arts – 1. 82 craftsmen working in the district of its four members of the craftsmen.

## Health

Works: a hospital with general fund of 135 beds, the center of family doctor in the composition of which are 12 family physician offices, 3 health centers, two health centers and 7 autonomous health offices.

## Personalities

* Andrei Lupan – Writer, politician and chairman of Moldovan Writers' Union (1946–1955; 1958–1961).
* Dumitru Matcovschi – Writer and member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, He was a founder of the Popular Front of Moldova
* Mihai Volontir – Actor
* Simeon G. Murafa – Politician and director of the newspaper Cuvânt moldovenesc
* Teofil Ioncu – Bessarabian politician