Vâlcea County

Vâlcea County (also spelt Vîlcea) is a county (județ) of Romania. Located in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt River), it is also part of the wider Wallachia region. Its capital city is Râmnicu Vâlcea.
Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 355,320 and the population density was 61.63/km2.
Romanians - over 98%
Roma, others - 2%
Geography
This county has a total area of .
The North side of the county is occupied by the mountains from the Southern Carpathians group: the Făgăraș Mountains in the east with heights over , and the Lotru Mountains in the west with heights over . They are separated by the Olt River valley — the most accessible passage between Transylvania and Muntenia. Along the Olt River valley there are smaller groups of mountains, the most spectacular being the .
Towards the South, the heights decrease, passing through the sub-carpathian hills to a high plain in the West side of the Wallachian Plain.
The main river is the Olt River crossing the county from North to South. Its main affluents are the Lotru River in the North and the Olteț River in the South.
Neighbours
Argeș County in the East.
Gorj County and Hunedoara County in the West.
Sibiu County and Alba County in the North.
Dolj County and Olt County in the South.
Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
Chemical industry.
Food and beverage industry.
Textile industry.
Mechanical components industry.
Construction materials.
Wood and furniture industry.
In the West of the county coal and salt are extracted.
The area in the center of the county is well suited for fruit orchards, vineyards, and raising cattle. The South is better suited for growing cereals and vegetables.
Tourism
The main tourist destinations are:
The Olt River valley:
The Călimănești-Căciulata resorts.
The Cozia Monastery.
The Turnu Monastery.
The Cozia Mountains.
Various small churches and fortifications.
The Lotru River valley:
The town of Brezoi.
The Lotru Mountains.
The Voineasa resort.
The Vidra resort
The Obârșia Lotrului resort.
The city of Râmnicu Vâlcea.
The Băile Govora resort.
The Băile Olănești resort.
Politics
The Vâlcea County Council, renewed at the 2020 Romanian local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:
Administrative divisions
Vâlcea County has two municipalities, nine towns and 78 communes as follows:
Municipalities
Râmnicu Vâlcea - county seat town; population: 93,151 (as of 2022)
Drăgășani
Towns
Băbeni
Băile Govora
Băile Olănești
Bălcești
Berbești
Brezoi
Călimănești
Horezu
Ocnele Mari
Communes
Alunu
Amărăști
Bărbătești
Berislăvești
Boișoara
Budești
Bujoreni
Bunești
Câineni
Cernișoara
Copăceni
Costești
Crețeni
Dăești
Dănicei
Diculești
Drăgoești
Fârtățești
Făurești
Frâncești
Galicea
Ghioroiu
Glăvile
Golești
Grădiștea
Gușoeni
Ionești
Lăcusteni
Lădești
Laloșu
Lăpușata
Livezi
Lungești
Măciuca
Mădulari
Malaia
Măldărești
Mateești
Mihăești
Milcoiu
Mitrofani
Muereasca
Nicolae Bălcescu
Olanu
Orlești
Oteșani
Păușești
Păușești-Măglași
Perișani
Pesceana
Pietrari
Popești
Prundeni
Racovița
Roești
Roșiile
Runcu
Sălătrucel
Scundu
Sinești
Șirineasa
Slătioara
Stănești
Ștefănești
Stoenești
Stoilești
Stroești
Șușani
Sutești
Tetoiu
Titești
Tomșani
Vaideeni
Valea Mare
Vlădești
Voicești
Voineasa
Zătreni
Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of Greater Romania, in the northeast part of the historical region of Oltenia. Its capital was Râmnicu Vâlcea. The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Vâlcea County; however the territories situated to the east of the Olt River in the current county were not part of the historical county.
The county was bordered to the north by Sibiu County, to the east by the counties of Argeș and Olt, to the south by Romanați County, and to the west by the counties of Dolj and Gorj.
Administration
The county was in 1930 divided into five administrative districts (plăși):
Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
Plasa Zătreni, headquartered at Zătreni
By 1938, there were six districts, four previous and two new ones resulting from the reorganisation of the southwest part of the county:
Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
Plasa Bălcești, headquartered at Bălcești
Plasa Oltețu, headquartered at Oltețu
Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 246,713 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 97.4% Romanians, 1.6% Romanies, 0.2% Germans, 0.2% Hungarians, 0.2% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.0% Eastern Orthodox, 0.4% Roman Catholic, 0.2% Jewish, as well as other minorities.
Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 31,909 inhabitants, comprising 94.8% Romanians, 1.3% Romanies, 1.0% Germans, 0.8% Jews, 0.7% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 96.4% Eastern Orthodox, 1.4% Roman Catholic, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Lutheran, 0.3% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.
References
External links
Counties of Romania
Geography of Wallachia
1879 establishments in Romania
1938 disestablishments in Romania
1940 establishments in Romania
1950 disestablishments in Romania
1968 establishments in Romania
States and territories established in 1879
States and territories disestablished in 1938
States and territories established in 1940
States and territories disestablished in 1950
States and territories established in 1968