# Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok County

Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok (Hungarian: Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok vármegye, pronounced) is an administrative county (comitatus or vármegye) in Hungary. It lies in central Hungary and shares borders with the Hungarian counties Pest, Heves, Borsod–Abaúj–Zemplén, Hajdú–Bihar, Békés, Csongrád, and Bács–Kiskun. The rivers Tisza and Körös flow through the county. The capital of Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok county is Szolnok. Its area is 5582 km$^2$. The county is named after the Ossetians (Jasz) and Cumans (Kun) who settled there, along with Szolnok. The county was part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion between 1997 and 2004.

## Geography

This county has a total area of 5,582 km$^2$ (2,155 sq mi) – 6.00% of Hungary.

### Neighbouring counties

* Heves and Borsod–Abaúj–Zemplén County in the North.
* Hajdú–Bihar and Békés County in the East.
* Csongrád County in the South.
* Bács–Kiskun and Pest County in the West.

## Symbols
### Coat of arms and flag

The county's coat of arms was recreated in 1991 from the coats of arms of the former Jászkun periphery, with the crown and frame decoration on it. It consists of the unification of the coat of arms of Jászság, Nagykunság and former Exterior-Szolnok County. The upper part is divided into two equally spaced vertices from top to bottom.
* The upper-left field is a natural colored stork, on a silver (white) background. It means the formerly Exterior–Szolnok County.
* The top-right coat of arms shows a dark brown lion, with red crescent and star above it, on a gold (yellow) background. It means the Nagykunság.
* Bottom, with the coat of arms is divided into two parts and it is divided into a lower part in a blue box on a white-knight fighter, his right hand with the Lehel's horn, his left hand holding a shield. It symbolizes the Jászság.
* Above the rider, three wavy silver bars represent the three rivers (Tisza, Zagyva and Körös) of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County.
The flag is vertically divided into two equal sections (blue and white), with the coat of arms on it, and the county's name embroidered with gold thread under the coat of arms. Its ratio is 2:1. The use of both coat of arms and flag is regulated by the county council.

## Demographics

Religion in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County (2022 census – of those who declared their religion (59.4%))
In 2015, it had a population of 379,897 and the population density was 68/km$^2$.
| Year | County population | Change |
| 1949 | 449,551 | n/a |
| 1960 | 461,307 (record) | 2.62% |
| 1970 | 437,879 | -5.08% |
| 1980 | 445,624 | 1.77% |
| 1990 | 425,583 | -4.50% |
| 2001 | 415,917 | -2.27% |
| 2011 | 386,594 | -7.05% |
| 2015 | 379,897 | -1.76% |
| 2018 | 371,271 | -2.31% |

### Ethnicity

Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Roma (approx. 19,000), German and Romanian (500).
Total population (2011 census): 386,594 Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 344,488 persons:
* Hungarians: 323,293 (93.85%)
* Roma: 18,935 (5.50%)
* Others and indefinable: 2,260 (0.66%)
Approx. 56,000 persons in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.

### Religion

Religious adherence in the county according to 2011 census:
* Catholic – 124,331 (Roman Catholic – 123,208; Greek Catholic – 1,106);
* Reformed – 42,968;
* Evangelical – 1,127;
* other religions – 4,312;
* Non-religious – 108,247;
* Atheism – 4,651;
* Undeclared – 100,958.

## Regional structure

| No. | English and Hungarian names | Area (km$^2$) | Population (2011) | Density (pop./km$^2$) | Seat | No. of municipalities |
| 1 | Jászapáti District Jászapáti járás | 544.45 | 33,172 | 61 | Jászapáti | 9 |
| 2 | Jászberény District Jászberényi járás | 617.01 | 51,274 | 83 | Jászberény | 9 |
| 3 | Karcag District Karcagi járás | 857.26 | 43,226 | 50 | Karcag | 5 |
| 4 | Kunhegyes District Kunhegyesi járás | 464.58 | 20,045 | 43 | Kunhegyes | 7 |
| 5 | Kunszentmárton District Kunszentmártoni járás | 576.49 | 36,147 | 63 | Kunszentmárton | 11 |
| 6 | Mezőtúr District Mezőtúri járás | 725.74 | 28,191 | 39 | Mezőtúr | 5 |
| 7 | Szolnok District Szolnoki járás | 914.48 | 118,241 | 129 | Szolnok | 18 |
| 8 | Tiszafüred District Tiszafüredi járás | 417.05 | 19,559 | 47 | Tiszafüred | 7 |
| 9 | Törökszentmiklós District Törökszentmiklósi járás | 464.54 | 36,739 | 79 | Törökszentmiklós | 7 |
| Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County | Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County | 5,581.61 | 386,594 | 69 | Szolnok | 78 |

## Transport
### Road network

As of 2012, Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok County has a dense network of public roads, totalling 1,330 km (830 mi) in length of which 112 km (70 mi) are primary and 283 km (176 mi) are secondary. There are 935 km (581 mi) of county and communal roads and 14 km (8.7 mi) are covered with light road surfaces.

#### Highway network

* from Budapest to Nagykereki (Romanian border). (planned)
* from Szolnok to Szentgotthárd (Austrian border). (planned)
* from Kecskemét to Gyula (Romanian border). (under construction)

#### Road network

* runs from Budapest to Záhony (Ukrainian border), via Szolnok, Törökszentmiklós and Karcag. – 81 km (50 mi)
* runs from Budapest to Füzesabony, via Jászberény and Jászapáti.
* runs from Szolnok to Hatvan, via Újszász, Jászberény and Jászfényszaru. ~ 74 km (46 mi)
* runs from Füzesabony to Debrecen, via Tiszafüred.
* runs from Tiszafüred to Fegyvernek, via Kunhegyes. ~ 53 km (33 mi)
* old sections of Main road 4.
* runs from Kecskemét to Gyula (Romanian border), via Kunszentmárton and Öcsöd. – 29 km (18 mi)
* runs from Kunszentmárton to Hódmezővásárhely. – 10 km (6.2 mi)
* runs from Törökszentmiklós to Mezőberény, via Mezőtúr. – 33 km (21 mi)
* 402 runs from Szolnok-center to Main road 4.
* runs from Szolnok to Kunszentmárton, via Martfű. – 43 km (27 mi)

### Rail network

Rail lines in the county cover 503 km (313 mi) of route. 35% are double track, and over 45% (243 km, 151 mi) are electrified.

## Politics
### County Assembly

The county is governed by the County board of supervisors, which is located in the county seat. The Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 18 counselors, with the following party composition:
| Party | Seats |
| Fidesz–KDNP | 11 |
| Our Homeland Movement | 3 |
| Democratic Coalition | 2 |
| Momentum Movement | 1 |
| Jobbik | 1 |

#### Presidents of the County Assembly

List of presidents since 1990 :
| Lajos Boros (MDF) | 1990–1994 |
| Imre Iváncsik (MSZP) | 1994–1998 |
| Lajos Búsi (Fidesz) | 1998–2002 |
| István Tokár (MSZP) | 2002–2006 |
| Andor Fejér (Fidesz–KDNP) | 2006–2010 |
| Sándor Kovács (Fidesz-KDNP) | 2010–2019 |
| Imre Hubai (Fidesz–KDNP) | 2019– |

### Members of the National Assembly

The following members elected of the National Assembly during the 2022 parliamentary election:
| Constituency | Member | Party |
| Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County 1st constituency | Mária Kállai | Fidesz–KDNP |
| Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County 2nd constituency | János Pócs | Fidesz–KDNP |
| Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County 3rd constituency | Sándor F. Kovács | Fidesz–KDNP |
| Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County 4th constituency | Zsolt Herczeg | Fidesz–KDNP |

## Municipalities

Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok County has 1 urban county, 21 towns, 4 large villages and 52 villages.

### City with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)
* Szolnok (72,953) – county seat

### Towns

* Jászberény (27,087)
* Törökszentmiklós (21,071)
* Karcag (20,632)
* Mezőtúr (17,510)
* Kisújszállás (11,397)
* Tiszafüred (11,382)
* Tiszaföldvár (11,129)
* Jászapáti (8,889)
* Túrkeve (8,878)
* Kunszentmárton (8,714)
* Jászárokszállás (7,929)
* Kunhegyes (7,704)
* Martfű (6,535)
* Fegyvernek (6,507)
* Újszász (6,321)
* Jászfényszaru (5,680)
* Jászkisér (5,467)
* Rákóczifalva (5,434)
* Kenderes (4,809)
* Abádszalók (4,180)
* Besenyszög (3,339)

### Large villages

* Cibakháza
* Jászladány
* Kunmadaras
* Öcsöd

### Villages

* Alattyán
* Berekfürdő
* Csataszög
* Csépa
* Cserkeszőlő
* Fegyvernek
* Hunyadfalva
* Jánoshida
* Jászágó
* Jászalsószentgyörgy
* Jászboldogháza
* Jászdózsa
* Jászfelsőszentgyörgy
* Jászivány
* Jászjákóhalma
* Jászszentandrás
* Jásztelek
* Kengyel
* Kétpó
* Kőtelek
* Kuncsorba
* Mesterszállás
* Mezőhék
* Nagyiván
* Nagykörű
* Nagyrév
* Örményes
* Pusztamonostor
* Rákócziújfalu
* Szajol
* Szászberek
* Szelevény
* Tiszabő
* Tiszabura
* Tiszaderzs
* Tiszagyenda
* Tiszaigar
* Tiszainoka
* Tiszajenő
* Tiszakürt
* Tiszaörs
* Tiszapüspöki
* Tiszaroff
* Tiszasas
* Tiszasüly
* Tiszaszentimre
* Tiszaszőlős
* Tiszatenyő
* Tiszavárkony
* Tomajmonostora
* Tószeg
* Vezseny
* Zagyvarékas

## Gallery

* Szolnok Gallery (former synagogue) in Szolnok
* Holy Trinity Church in Törökszentmiklós
* Tiszavirág bridge in Szolnok
* Horn of Lehel in Jászberény
* Chapel in Kunhegyes
* Windmill Hill in Kengyel
* Statue of Stephen I of Hungary in Martfű
* River Tisza near Tiszapüspöki

## Notable people

Many famous people have been born or lived in present-day Jász–Nagykun–Szolnok County:
* Statesman: Miklós Horthy
* Politicians: János Tóth, István Antal, Sándor Fazekas, Mihály Varga
* Writers, poets and playwrights: Ferenc Verseghy, István Csukás
* Musicians Classical: Déryné Róza Széppataki, Zoltán Jeney, Zoltán Mága. Other: Pál Kalmár, Ferenc Molnár "Caramel"
* Scientists: Gábor Szegő, Kalman Laki, Albert Kónya, József Hámori, Avram Hershko
* Sportspeople: Aladár Gerevich, Bertalan Papp, Gábor Benedek, Tibor Csík, Pál B. Nagy, Géza Csapó
* Actors, entertainers and film directors: Alexander Korda, Zoltan Korda, Vincent Korda, János Görbe, Gyula Szabó, Eszter Tamási
* Militarian: Lajos Czinege
* Businessman: Sándor Csányi
* Others: Gyula Németh, István Sándor

## International relations

Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County has a partnership relationship with:
| Province of Asti, Piedmont, Italy Almaty Region, Kazakhstan Bielsko County, Silesia, Poland Brzesko County, Lesser Poland, Poland Brandenburg, Germany Covasna County, Romania Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France County Durham, North East, England Henan Province, China Harghita County, Romania Lääne-Viru County, Estonia Maramureș County, Romania | Mielec County, Podkarpackie, Poland Mureș County, Romania Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, France Shanxi Province, China Somme, Hauts-de-France, France Sucha County, Lesser Poland, Poland Tarnów County, Lesser Poland, Poland Tavastia Proper, Finland Teltow-Fläming, Brandenburg, Germany Vojvodina, Serbia Żywiec County, Silesia, Poland |