Bacău County

Geography

This county has a total area of 6,621 km2 (2,556 sq mi).

In the western part of the county there are mountains from the Eastern Carpathian group. Here, along the valleys of the Oituz River and Trotuș River, there are two important links between Moldavia and Transylvania. On the East side, the heights decrease and the lowest point can be found on the Siret River valley which crosses the county from North to South down the middle. On the East side there is the Moldavian Plateau crossed by many small rivers.

Climate

The climate is temperate-continental with excessive nuances in the East and moderate ones in the West, featuring marked altitudinal differences. The average annual temperature varies between 2°C in the mountain zone, 8°C in the sub-Carpathian and plateau regions, and 9–10°C in the Siret River meadow. The absolute maximum temperature, and the absolute minimum were both recorded in Bacău, being 42.5 °C (7 August 2012) and -32.5 °C (20 February 1954). The amount of precipitation shows variations in relation to the relief units, reaching average annual values between 550 mm in the eastern part of the county and 1,100 mm on the mountain ridges in the West. The predominant direction of the winds denotes an accentuated frequency of air circulation from the North, Northwest, and Northeast, with their average annual speed varying between 4 and 6 m/s, and higher speeds recorded during the winter.

Flora and fauna

Bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, and squirrels inhabit Bacău County's mountains, particularly in its rural Slănic-Moldova region; the remnants of the local deer are preserved in Mănăstirea Cașin.

Neighbours

Vaslui County in the East.

Harghita County and Covasna County in the West.

Neamț County in the North.

Vrancea County in the South.

Economy

The county of Bacău was one of the most industrialized regions in the communist period and it remained Moldavia's most important industrial center ever since. There are two large oil refineries at Onești and Dărmănești. Following the collapse of the communist regime, Bacău continued to be the region's most important GDP supplier, but the county became more famous for the controversial figures involved in the local economy than for its performance.

The predominant industries in the county are:

The chemical and oil industry.

Food industry.

Construction materials industry.

Wood and paper industry.

Textile industry.

Mechanical components industry.

Aeronautics industry.

In Bacău County there are important reserves of oil and salt. Coal is also exploited.

Tourism

The main tourist destinations in the county are:

The cities of Bacău and Onești.

Resorts:

Poiana Sărată

Poiana Uzului

Slănic-Moldova

Târgu Ocna

The Nemira Mountains.

Demographics

Some estimates put the total number of Csángós at around 70,000 in 1987.

Politics

The Bacău County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 36 councilors, with the following party composition:

People

Gabriela Adameșteanu

Vasile Alecsandri

George Bacovia

Radu Beligan

Nadia Comăneci

Loredana Groza

Ioan Măric

Vasile Pârvan

Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu

Radu R. Rosetti

Tristan Tzara

Nicu Enea

Administrative divisions

Bacău County has 3 municipalities, 5 towns, and 85 communes

Municipalities

Bacău – capital city; population: 136,087 (as of 2021)

Moinești

Onești

Towns

Buhuși

Comănești

Dărmănești

Slănic-Moldova

Târgu Ocna

Politics

Bacău became famous after electing Ilie Ilașcu of the Greater Romania Party as their Senator, while he was held in prison in Transnistria.

Historical county

Between the world wars, Bacău County had a different territorial extent. The county was located in the east central part of Greater Romania, in the center of Moldavia. Its territory included the central part of the current Bacău County. It bordered on the west with the counties of Trei Scaune and Ciuc, in the north with Neamț and Roman counties, in the east with the counties of Tutova and Tecuci, and in the south with Putna County.

Administration

The county was originally divided into five districts (plăși):

Plasa Bistrița

Plasa Muntele, headquartered in Moinești

Plasa Oituz, headquartered in Oituz

Plasa Siret, headquartered in Siret

Plasa Tazlău, headquartered in Tazlău

Subsequently, two more districts were established:

Plasa Răcăciuni, headquartered in Răcăciuni

Plasa Traian, headquartered in Traian

Population

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 260,781, comprising 88.6% Romanians, 5.3% Jews, 3.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, 75.8% were Eastern Orthodox, 18.1% Roman Catholics, 5.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

In 1930, the county's urban population was 50,342, of which 70.1% were Romanians, 23.9% were Jews, 2.2% were Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From a religious point of view, the urban population consisted of 64.9% Eastern Orthodox, 24.4% Jewish, 9.3% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.