# Buzău County

Buzău County (Romanian pronunciation: ) is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Buzău.

## Demographics

In 2011, it had a population of 432,054 and the population density was 70.7/km$^2$.
* Romanians – 97%
* Romani – under 3% declared and others
| Year | County population |
| 1948 | 430,225 |
| 1956 | 465,829 |
| 1966 | 480,951 |
| 1977 | 508,424 |
| 1992 | 516,307 |
| 2002 | 496,214 |
| 2011 | 432,054 |
| 2021 | 404,979 |

## Geography

This county has a total area of 6,103 km$^2$.
In the North Side there are the mountains from the southern end of the Eastern Carpathians group – the Vrancea Mountains and the Buzău Mountains with heights over 1,700 m. The heights decrease in the South and East passing through the subcarpathian hills to the Bărăgan Plain at about 80 m.
The main river crossing the county is the Buzău River which collects many small rivers from the mountains and flows to the East into the Siret River.

### Neighbours

* Brăila County to the east.
* Prahova County and Brașov County to the west.
* Covasna County and Vrancea County to the north.
* Ialomița County to the south.

## Economy

The predominant industries in the county are:
* Mechanical components; railway and automotive components
* Metallurgical parts
* Glass
* Food
* Textiles
* Wood
The hilly area is well-suited for wines and fruit orchards. Salt and oil are the main resources extracted in the county.

## Tourism

The main tourist destinations are:
* The city of Buzău.
* The Vrancea Mountains and Buzău Mountains.
* The Berca Mud Volcanoes
* The amber museum in Colți
* The Ciolanu Monastery and the Măgura sculpture camp
* The Rătești Monastery
* The Amara Resort.
* The Sărata-Monteoru Resort.

## Politics

The Buzău County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:
| Party | Seats |
| Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 21 |
| National Liberal Party (PNL) | 7 |
| People's Movement Party (PMP) | 4 |

## Administrative divisions

Buzău County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 82 communes.
* Municipalities
** Buzău – capital city; population: 108,384 (as of 2011)
** Râmnicu Sărat
* Towns
** Nehoiu
** Pătârlagele
** Pogoanele
* Communes
** Amaru
** Bălăceanu
** Balta Albă
** Beceni
** Berca
** Bisoca
** Blăjani
** Boldu
** Bozioru
** Brădeanu
** Brăești
** Breaza
** Buda
** C.A. Rosetti
** Calvini
** Cănești
** Cătina
** Cernătești
** Chiliile
** Chiojdu
** Cilibia
** Cislău
** Cochirleanca
** Colți
** Costești
** Cozieni
** Florica
** Gălbinași
** Gherăseni
** Ghergheasa
** Glodeanu Sărat
** Glodeanu-Siliștea
** Grebănu
** Gura Teghii
** Largu
** Lopătari
** Luciu
** Măgura
** Mărăcineni
** Mărgăritești
** Mânzălești
** Merei
** Mihăilești
** Movila Banului
** Murgești
** Năeni
** Odăile
** Padina
** Pardoși
** Pănătău
** Pârscov
** Pietroasele
** Podgoria
** Poșta Câlnău
** Puiești
** Racovițeni
** Râmnicelu
** Robeasca
** Rușețu
** Săgeata
** Săhăteni
** Săpoca
** Sărulești
** Scorțoasa
** Scutelnici
** Siriu
** Smeeni
** Stâlpu
** Tisău
** Topliceni
** Țintești
** Ulmeni
** Unguriu
** Vadu Pașii
** Valea Râmnicului
** Valea Salciei
** Vâlcelele
** Vernești
** Vintilă Vodă
** Viperești
** Zărnești
** Ziduri

## Historical county

Historically, the county was located in the central-southern part of Greater Romania, in the northeastern part of the historical region of Muntenia. Its territory included the southern and western parts of today's Buzău County and several localities that are today in Prahova County, including the town of Mizil. It was bordered on the west by Prahova County, to the north by the counties of Brașov, Trei Scaune, and Putna, to the east by the counties of Râmnicu Sărat and Brăila, and to the south by Ialomița County.

### Administration

The county has seen multiple subdivisions administratively.
At the end of the 19th century, the county was subdivided into six districts (plăși):
* Plasa Sărata, with the town of Buzău and 16 communes
* Plasa Câmpului, with 14 communes
* Plasa Tohani, with the town of Mizil and 17 communes
* Plasa Buzău, with 17 communes
* Plasa Pârscov, with 16 communes
* Plasa Slănic, with 19 communes
In the interwar period, the territory of the county was initially divided into four districts:
* Plasa Buzău, headquartered at Pătârlagele
* Plasa Câmpul, headquartered at Buzău
* Plasa Slănic, headquartered at Săpoca
* Plasa Tohani, headquartered at Mizil
Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized into seven districts, by abolishing Plasa Câmpul and establishing four new districts:
* Plasa Buzău, headquartered at Pătârlagele
* Plasa Câlnău, headquartered at Buzău
* Plasa Câmpeni, headquartered at Pogoanele
* Plasa Orașul, headquartered at Buzău
* Plasa Pârscov, headquartered at Pârscov
* Plasa Slănic, headquartered at Săpoca
* Plasa Tohani, headquartered at Mizil

### Population

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 309,405 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 97.4% Romanians, 1.5% Romanies, 0.5% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 98.9% Eastern Orthodox, 0.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

#### Urban population

In 1930, the county's urban population was 42,127 inhabitants, comprising 91.2% Romanians, 3.7% Jews, 2.3% Romanies, 0.9% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 93.3% Eastern Orthodox, 3.9% Jewish, 1.0% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.