Gorj County () is a county () of
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
, in
Oltenia
Oltenia (), also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions – with the alternative Latin names , , and between 1718 and 1739 – is a historical province and geographical region of Romania in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Da ...
, with its capital city at
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu (, is the capital city, capital of Gorj County in the Oltenia region of Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathian Mountains, Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu (river), Jiu. Eight localities are administered by the ...
. ''Gorj'' comes from the Slavic ''Gornji''
Jiu (“upper Jiu”), in contrast with
Dolnji (“lower Jiu”).
Demographics
At the
2011 census, the county had a population of 334,238 and its population density was .
*
Romanians
Romanians (, ; dated Endonym and exonym, exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group and nation native to Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Sharing a Culture of Romania, ...
– over 98%
*
Roma
Roma or ROMA may refer to:
People, characters, figures, names
* Roma or Romani people, an ethnic group living mostly in Europe and the Americas.
* Roma called Roy, ancient Egyptian High Priest of Amun
* Roma (footballer, born 1979), born ''Paul ...
,
others
Others or The Others may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Others (''A Song of Ice and Fire''), supernatural creatures in the fictional world of George R. R. Martin's fantasy series ''A Song of Ice and Fire''
* Others (''Lost''), mysterious inh ...
– 2%
At the
2021 census, Gorj County had a population of 314,685.
Geography
Gorj County has a total area of .
The North side of the county consists of various mountains from the
Southern Carpathians
The Southern Carpathians (also known as the Transylvanian Alps; ; ) are a group of mountain ranges located in southern Romania. They cover the part of the Carpathian Mountains located between the Prahova River in the east and the Timiș and ...
group. In the West there are the
Vâlcan Mountains
The Vâlcan Mountains are a chain of mountains in the Southern Carpathians in Gorj County, Romania. They are part of the Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group, and run for approximately . The highest point is Oslea Peak at , and the second highest is ...
, and in the East there are the
Parâng Mountains
The Parâng Mountains (; ) are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with the highest peak, Parângu Mare, reaching 2,519 m.
Description
The Parâng Mountains are located in the south-western part of the Centr ...
and the
Negoveanu Mountains. The two groups are split by the
Jiu River
The Jiu (; ; ; ) is a river in southern Romania. It is formed near Petroșani by the confluence of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est.
It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, Gorj, Mehedinți and Dolj before flowing ...
.
To the South, the heights decrease through the hills to a high plain at the Western end of the
Wallachian Plain
The Romanian Plain () is located in southern Romania and the easternmost tip of Serbia, where it is known as the Wallachian Plain (). It is part of the larger Eurasian Steppe. It is located in the historical region of Wallachia, and bordered by ...
.
The main river, which collects all the smaller rivers, is the Jiu River; its tributaries include the
Tismana
Tismana is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It administers ten villages: Celei, Costeni, Gornovița, Isvarna, Pocruia, Racoți, Sohodol, Topești, Vâlcele, and Vânăta.
History
During the Byzantine period, Tismana was a major center of ...
,
Gilort
The Gilort is a river in southern Romania, a left tributary of the river Jiu. The Gilort flows through the villages and towns Novaci, Bălcești, Bengești, Târgu Cărbunești, Jupânești, Turburea and Capu Dealului. Its length is and i ...
, and
Motru
Motru () is a municipiu, city in Romania, Gorj County. It is situated on the river Motru (river), Motru and its tributary, the river Ploștina (river), Ploștina, in western Oltenia. The county capital Târgu Jiu is located about northeast. The ...
rivers.
Neighbours
*
Vâlcea County
Vâlcea County (also spelt ''Vîlcea''; ) is a county (județ) that lies in south-central Romania. Located in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt (river), Olt River), it i ...
to the east.
*
Mehedinți County
Mehedinți County () is a county () of Romania on the border with Serbia and Bulgaria. It is mostly located in the historical province of Oltenia, with one municipality (Orșova) and three communes (Dubova, Mehedinți, Dubova, Eșelnița, and Svi ...
and
Caraș-Severin County
Caraș-Severin () is a county ( județ) of Romania on the border with Serbia. The majority of its territory lies within the historical region of Banat, with a few northeastern villages considered part of Transylvania. The county seat is Reșița ...
to the west.
*
Hunedoara County
Hunedoara County () is a county (''județ'') of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Deva, Romania, Deva. The county is part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion.
Name
In Hungarian language, Hungarian, it is known as , ...
to the north.
*
Dolj County
Dolj County (; originally meant ''Dol(no)-Jiu River, Jiu'', "lower Jiu", as opposed to ''Gorj'' (''upper Jiu'')) is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova.
Demographics
In 2011, ...
to the south.
Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
* Mining equipment industry.
* Food and beverages industry.
* Textile industry.
* Mechanical components industry.
* Glass industry.
* Wood industry.
In the North of the county, coal is extracted near
Motru
Motru () is a municipiu, city in Romania, Gorj County. It is situated on the river Motru (river), Motru and its tributary, the river Ploștina (river), Ploștina, in western Oltenia. The county capital Târgu Jiu is located about northeast. The ...
and
Rovinari
Rovinari () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, ...
. There are two big thermo electrical power plants at
Rovinari
Rovinari () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, ...
and
Turceni
Turceni is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia ...
, and some hydro-electrical power plants. The county is the biggest electricity producer in Romania, with 36% of the country's electricity.
Due to the decrease in mining activity, the county has one of the highest unemployment levels in the country.
Tourism

The main tourist destinations are:
* The city and the area around
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu (, is the capital city, capital of Gorj County in the Oltenia region of Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathian Mountains, Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu (river), Jiu. Eight localities are administered by the ...
:
** The
Constantin Brâncuși
Constantin Brâncuși (; February 19, 1876 – March 16, 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter, and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century and a pioneer of modernism ...
sculptural ensemble;
**
Tismana
Tismana is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It administers ten villages: Celei, Costeni, Gornovița, Isvarna, Pocruia, Racoți, Sohodol, Topești, Vâlcele, and Vânăta.
History
During the Byzantine period, Tismana was a major center of ...
Monastery.
* The
Parâng Mountains
The Parâng Mountains (; ) are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with the highest peak, Parângu Mare, reaching 2,519 m.
Description
The Parâng Mountains are located in the south-western part of the Centr ...
.
*
Polovragi
Polovragi is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Polovragi and Racovița.
The commune is located in the northeastern part of Gorj County, from the county seat, Târgu Jiu, on the border with Vâlcea County. ...
Monastery.
Politics
The Gorj County Council, renewed at the
2020 local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:
Administrative divisions
Gorj County has 2 municipalities, 7 towns and 61 communes
*Municipalities
**
Motru
Motru () is a municipiu, city in Romania, Gorj County. It is situated on the river Motru (river), Motru and its tributary, the river Ploștina (river), Ploștina, in western Oltenia. The county capital Târgu Jiu is located about northeast. The ...
- population: 15,950 (as of 2021)
**
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu (, is the capital city, capital of Gorj County in the Oltenia region of Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathian Mountains, Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu (river), Jiu. Eight localities are administered by the ...
– capital city; population: 73,545 (as of 2021)
*Towns
**
Bumbești-Jiu
Bumbești-Jiu () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Jiu. It administers four villages: Curtișoara, Lăzărești, Pleșa and Tetila. It officially became a town in 1989, as a result of the Romanian rural systematization pro ...
**
Novaci
**
Rovinari
Rovinari () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, ...
**
Târgu Cărbunești
Târgu Cărbunești is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 7,616 as of 2021.Rezultatele finale ale Recensământului din 2011: It lies in the south-eastern part of the county and administers ten villages: Blahnița de Jos ...
**
Țicleni
Țicleni is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serb ...
**
Tismana
Tismana is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It administers ten villages: Celei, Costeni, Gornovița, Isvarna, Pocruia, Racoți, Sohodol, Topești, Vâlcele, and Vânăta.
History
During the Byzantine period, Tismana was a major center of ...
**
Turceni
Turceni is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia ...
*Communes
**
Albeni
**
Alimpești
Alimpești is a commune in Gorj County, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Alimpești, Ciupercenii de Olteț, Corșoru, Nistorești, and Sârbești.
The commune is situated on the , in the foothills of the Southern Carpathians, at an altitu ...
**
Aninoasa
Aninoasa ( or ''Aninószabányatelep'') is a town in Hunedoara County in the Transylvania region of Romania. The town is located in the Jiu Valley, which is a coal basin, and many of the towns residents are coal miners. Aninoasa administers one ...
**
Arcani
**
Baia de Fier
Baia de Fier is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Baia de Fier and Cernădia. It is traversed by the river Pârâul Galben; to the east flows the river Olteț. Peștera Muierilor (''women's cave'') is loc ...
**
Bălănești
**
Bălești
**
Bărbătești
**
Bengești-Ciocadia
Bengești-Ciocadia is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to th ...
**
Berlești
**
Bâlteni
Bâlteni is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Bâlteni, Cocoreni, Moi, Peșteana-Jiu, and Vlăduleni.
The commune is situated west of Bucharest, south of Târgu Jiu, and north-west of Craiova
Crai ...
**
Bolboși
Bolboși is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Se ...
**
Borăscu
Borăscu is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, S ...
**
Brănești
**
Bumbești-Pițic
Bumbești-Pițic is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the ...
**
Bustuchin
**
Câlnic
**
Căpreni
Căpreni is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Se ...
**
Cătunele
**
Ciuperceni
**
Crasna
**
Crușeț
Crușeț is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, S ...
**
Dănciulești
**
Dănești
**
Drăgotești
**
Drăguțești
Drăguțești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the wes ...
**
Fărcășești
Fărcășești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the we ...
**
Glogova
**
Godinești
**
Hurezani
**
Ionești
**
Jupânești
**
Lelești
**
Licurici
**
Logrești
Logrești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, S ...
**
Mătăsari
Mătăsari is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west ...
**
Mușetești
Mușetești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west ...
**
Negomir
Negomir is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of ten villages: Artanu, Bohorel, Condeiești, Negomir, Nucetu, Orzu, Paltinu, Raci, Ursoaia, and Valea Racilor.
The commune lies on the , at an altitude of , on the banks of th ...
**
Padeș
**
Peștișani
Peștișani () is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Boroșteni, Brădiceni, Frâncești, Gureni, Hobița, Peștișani, and Seuca.
Hobița village is the birthplace of sculptor Constantin Brâncuși.
Pe ...
**
Plopșoru
**
Polovragi
Polovragi is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Polovragi and Racovița.
The commune is located in the northeastern part of Gorj County, from the county seat, Târgu Jiu, on the border with Vâlcea County. ...
**
Prigoria
**
Roșia de Amaradia
**
Runcu
**
Săcelu
**
Samarinești
Samarinești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west ...
**
Săulești
**
Schela
**
Scoarța
**
Slivilești
Slivilești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of eight villages: Cojmănești, Miculești, Slivilești, Strâmtu, Sura, Șiacu, Știucani and Tehomir.
Natives
* Dumitru Carlaonț
* Ioan Carlaonț
Ioan Carlaonț (19 Oct ...
**
Stănești
**
Stejari
**
Stoina
**
Țânțăreni
**
Telești
Telești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, S ...
**
Turburea
Turburea is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, S ...
**
Turcinești
**
Urdari
Urdari is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serb ...
**
Văgiulești
Văgiulești is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Cârciu, Covrigi, Murgilești, Valea Motrului, and Văgiulești.
The commune is situated in the western reaches of the , at an altitude of , on the left b ...
**
Vladimir
Vladimir (, , pre-1918 orthography: ) is a masculine given name of Slavic origin, widespread throughout all Slavic nations in different forms and spellings. The earliest record of a person with the name is Vladimir of Bulgaria ().
Etymology
...
Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of
Greater Romania
Greater Romania () is the Kingdom of Romania in the interwar period, achieved after the Great Union or the related pan-nationalist ideal of a nation-state which would incorporate all Romanian speakers.Irina LivezeanuCultural Politics in Greate ...
, in the northern part of the historical region of
Oltenia
Oltenia (), also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions – with the alternative Latin names , , and between 1718 and 1739 – is a historical province and geographical region of Romania in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Da ...
. Its capital was
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu (, is the capital city, capital of Gorj County in the Oltenia region of Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathian Mountains, Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu (river), Jiu. Eight localities are administered by the ...
. The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Gorj County.
It was bordered to the west by
Mehedinți County
Mehedinți County () is a county () of Romania on the border with Serbia and Bulgaria. It is mostly located in the historical province of Oltenia, with one municipality (Orșova) and three communes (Dubova, Mehedinți, Dubova, Eșelnița, and Svi ...
, to the north by the counties of
Hunedoara
Hunedoara (; ; ) is a municipiu, city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southwestern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boș (''Bós''), Groș (''Grós''), Hășdat (''Hosdát ...
and
Sibiu
Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles th ...
, to the east by
Vâlcea County
Vâlcea County (also spelt ''Vîlcea''; ) is a county (județ) that lies in south-central Romania. Located in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt (river), Olt River), it i ...
, and to the south by
Dolj County
Dolj County (; originally meant ''Dol(no)-Jiu River, Jiu'', "lower Jiu", as opposed to ''Gorj'' (''upper Jiu'')) is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova.
Demographics
In 2011, ...
.
Administration

The county was originally divided into four administrative districts (''
plăși''):
[Portretul României Interbelice – Județul Gorj]
/ref>
#Plasa Gilort, headquartered at Gilort
The Gilort is a river in southern Romania, a left tributary of the river Jiu. The Gilort flows through the villages and towns Novaci, Bălcești, Bengești, Târgu Cărbunești, Jupânești, Turburea and Capu Dealului. Its length is and i ...
#Plasa Jiu, headquartered at Jiu
#Plasa Novaci, headquartered at Novaci
#Plasa Vulcana, headquartered at Vulcana
Miriam Kate Williams (6 May 1874 – 8 August 1946) sometimes called Kate Roberts and better known by her stage name Vulcana, was a Wales, Welsh strongwoman. With Strongman (strength athlete), strongman William Hedley Roberts, better known ...
Subsequently, two more districts were established:
- Plasa Amaradia, headquartered at Amaradia
- Plasa Ocolu, headquartered at Ocolul
Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 206,339 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 97.9% Romanians, 1.7% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.6% Eastern Orthodox, as well as other minorities.
Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 13,030 inhabitants, comprising 90.0% Romanians, 4.6% Romanies, 1.1% Germans, 0.9% Hungarians, 0.8% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 95.8% Eastern Orthodox, 2.2% Roman Catholic, 0.8% Jewish, as well as other minorities.
Industry
In the county capital of Târgu Jiu, there was a factory producing roof tiles
Roof tiles are overlapping tiles designed mainly to keep out precipitation such as rain or snow, and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay or slate. Later tiles have been made from materials such as concrete, glass ...
as of 1931.[H. T. Montague Bell, Near East, Limited, 1931, ''The Near East Year Book and Who's who: A Survey of the Affairs, Political, Economic and Social, of Yugoslavia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey'', p. 559]
References
External links
{{Authority control
Counties of Romania
Geography of Wallachia
Place names of Slavic origin in Romania
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