Iași County () is a county (județ) of

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

, in

Western Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova), also called Western Moldavia or Romanian Moldavia, is the historic and geographical part of the former Principality of Moldavia situated in eastern and north-eastern Romania. Until its union with Wallachia in 1859, the P ...

, with the administrative seat at Iași. It is the most populous county in Romania, after the Municipality of

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

(which has the same administrative level as that of a county).

Geography

This county has a total area of 5,476 km². It lies on a plain between the

Siret River The Siret or Sireth ( uk, Сірет or Серет, ro, Siret , hu, Szeret, russian: Сирет) is a river that rises from the Carpathians in the Northern Bukovina region of Ukraine, and flows southward into Romania before it joins the Danube. ...

and the Prut River. Two other rivers run through the county: the Bahlui River (on the banks of which lies the city of Iași) and the Jijia River.

Neighbours

Republic of Moldova A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

to the east -

Ungheni District Ungheni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, bordering Romania, with the administrative center at Ungheni. The other major city is Corneşti. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 117,400. History Villages with an ...

. *

Neamț County Neamț County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia, with the county seat at Piatra Neamț. The county takes its name from the Neamț River. Demographics Population In 2011, it had a population of 470,766 ...

to the west. *

Botoșani County Botoșani County () is a county ( județ) of Romania, in Western Moldavia (encompassing a few villages in neigbhouring Suceava County from Bukovina to the west as well), with the capital town ( ro, Oraș reședință de județ) at Botoșani. ...

and Suceava County to the northwest. *

Vaslui County Vaslui County () is a county ( județ) of Romania, in the historical region Western Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui. Demographics In 2011, it had a population of 395,499 and the population density was 74/km². * Romanians - over 98% * ...

to the south.

Demographics

As of 20 October 2011 census, Iași County had a population of 772,348. On the other hand, according to the 2012 data provided by the County Population Register Service, the total registered population of the county is as high as 873,662 people. *

Romanians The Romanians ( ro, români, ; dated exonym '' Vlachs'') are a Romance-speaking ethnic group. Sharing a common Romanian culture and ancestry, and speaking the Romanian language, they live primarily in Romania and Moldova. The 2011 Roman ...

- 97.61% * Romani - 1.55% *

Lipovans , flag = Flag of the Lipovans.png , flag_caption = Flag of the Lipovans , image = Evstafiev-lipovane-slava-cherkeza.jpg , caption = Lipovans during a ceremony in front of the Lipovan church in the Romanian village of Slava Cercheză in 200 ...

- 0.39% * Others - 0.3% The population of Iași County nowadays is nearly double of what it was sixty years ago.

County government

The Iași County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Economy

This county is predominantly agricultural, due to its topography. Industry is concentrated in the cities. The principal industries are: * Software * Pharmaceuticals * Automotive * Metallurgy and heavy-equipment manufacturing * Electronics & Electrotechnics * Textiles * Food production

Tourism

City of Iași is the most important city in

Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and for ...

and one of the most important social, cultural and business centres in Romania. It has the oldest

University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

in the country, and, until the formation of the

United Principalities The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia ( ro, Principatele Unite ale Moldovei și Țării Românești), commonly called United Principalities, was the personal union of the Principality of Moldavia and the Principality of Wallachia, ...

, it was the capital of Moldavia. Some of the tourist destinations in the county: * City of Iași and its environs (the Seven hills of Iași); *

Alexandru Ioan Cuza Alexandru Ioan Cuza (, or Alexandru Ioan I, also anglicised as Alexander John Cuza; 20 March 1820 – 15 May 1873) was the first ''domnitor'' (Ruler) of the Romanian Principalities through his double election as prince of Moldavia on 5 Janua ...

Memorial Palace in Ruginoasa; * Cucuteni - Neolithic archeological site; * Cotnari and Bohotin vineyards; * Museum of Vineyard and Wine in

Hârlău Hârlău (also spelled ''Hîrlău'', ; he, חרלאו; hu, Harló) is a town in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It was one of the princely court cities of Moldavia, in the 15th century. One village, Pârcovaci, is administered by the to ...

; * Hadâmbu and Dobrovăț Monasteries; * Miclăușeni Castle and Monastery; *

Vasile Alecsandri Vasile Alecsandri (; 21 July 182122 August 1890) was a Romanian patriot, poet, dramatist, politician and diplomat. He was one of the key figures during the 1848 revolutions in Moldavia and Wallachia. He fought for the unification of the Romani ...

Memorial House in

Mircești Mircești is a Commune in Romania, commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Iugani and Mircești. It also included the villages of Izvoarele, Răchiteni and Ursărești until 2004, when these were split o ...

; * Constantin Negruzzi Museum in Hermeziu; * Cezar Petrescu Museum in Cotnari; * City of

Pașcani Pașcani () is a city in Iași County in the Western Moldavia region of Romania, on the Siret river. , it has a population of 33,745. Five villages are administered by the city: Blăgești, Boșteni, Gâstești, Lunca, and Sodomeni. The city der ...

, and towns of

Târgu Frumos Târgu Frumos (also spelled ''Tîrgu Frumos'', sometimes ''Târgul / Tîrgul Frumos''), ) is a town in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania. Eleven villages were administered by the town until 2004, when they were split off to form Balș, Cost ...

and

; * Strunga health resort.

Communities

Iași County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns, and 93 communes *Municipalities (as of 2011 census) ** Iași - population: 290,422 (and 465,477 (as of 2014) in the urban area) **

- population: 33,745 *Towns **

** Podu Iloaiei **

*Communes **

** Andrieșeni ** Aroneanu ** Balș ** Bălțați **

Bârnova Bârnova is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania, part of the Iași Metropolitan Area The Iași Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan association in Iași County, Romania, that includes the municipality of Iași and 19 nearby comm ...

** Belcești ** Bivolari ** Brăești ** Butea ** Ceplenița ** Ciohorăni ** Ciortești **

Ciurea Ciurea is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania, part of the Iași metropolitan area. Situated 7 km south from the county seat of Iași, it is composed of seven villages: Ciurea, Curături, Dumbrava, Hlincea, Lunca Cetățuii, ...

** Coarnele Caprei ** Comarna ** Costești ** Costuleni ** Cotnari ** Cozmești ** Cristești ** Cucuteni ** Dagâța ** Deleni ** Dobrovăț ** Dolhești ** Drăgușeni ** Dumești ** Erbiceni ** Fântânele ** Focuri ** Golăiești **

Gorban Gorban is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders B ...

** Grajduri ** Gropnița ** Grozești ** Hălăucești ** Hărmănești ** Heleșteni ** Holboca ** Horlești ** Ion Neculce **

Ipatele Ipatele is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bu ...

** Lespezi **

Lețcani Lețcani is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania, part of the Iași metropolitan area. It is composed of four villages: Bogonos, Cogeasca, Cucuteni and Lețcani. Among historians and archaeologists, Lețcani is famous as the place ...

** Lungani ** Mădârjac **

** Mironeasa ** Miroslava ** Miroslovești ** Mogoșești ** Mogoșești-Siret ** Moșna ** Moțca ** Movileni ** Oțeleni ** Plugari ** Popești ** Popricani ** Prisăcani ** Probota ** Răchiteni ** Răducăneni ** Rediu ** Românești ** Roșcani ** Ruginoasa ** Scânteia ** Schitu Duca ** Scobinți ** Sinești ** Sirețel ** Stolniceni-Prăjescu ** Strunga ** Șcheia ** Șipote ** Tansa **

Tătăruși Tătăruși is a commune in Iași County, Western Moldavia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borde ...

** Țibana ** Țibănești ** Țigănași ** Todirești ** Tomești ** Trifești ** Țuțora **

Ungheni Ungheni () is a municipality in Moldova. With a population of 35,157, it is the seventh largest town in Moldova and the seat of Ungheni District. There is a bridge across the Prut and a border checkpoint to Romania. There is another border ...

** Valea Lupului ** Valea Seacă ** Vânători **

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

** Vlădeni ** Voinești

Historical county

The county was located in the northeastern part of

Greater Romania The term Greater Romania ( ro, România Mare) usually refers to the borders of the Kingdom of Romania in the interwar period, achieved after the Great Union. It also refers to a pan-nationalist idea. As a concept, its main goal is the creation ...

, in the northeast of the region of

. Today, most of the territory of the former county is part of the current Iași County. In the eastern part of the county, the county included a part of the left bank of the Prut River, now in the territory of the

. It was bordered to the north by the counties of Botoșani and

Bălți Bălți (; russian: Бельцы, , uk, Бєльці, , yi, בעלץ ) is a city in Moldova. It is the second largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city is one of the five Moldovan municipalit ...

, to the east by Lăpușna County, to the south by the counties of

Fălciu Fălciu is a commune in Vaslui County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Bogdănești, Bozia, Copăceana, Fălciu, Odaia Bogdana, and Rânzești. The commune is a border crossing between Moldova and Romania. The Fălciu ...

and

Vaslui Vaslui (), a city in eastern Romania, is the seat of Vaslui County, in the historical region of Western Moldavia. The city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu, and Viișoara. History Archaeological surveys indicate ...

, and to the west by the counties of

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

and

Baia Baia (german: Baja, Stadt Molde, or Moldenmarkt; hu, Moldvabánya; lat, Civitas Moldaviae) is a commune in Suceava County, in the historical region of Western Moldavia, northeastern Romania with a population of 6,793 (2002 census). In 1938, the county was divided into six districts ('' plăși''):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Iași
/ref> #Plasa

Bahlui The Bahlui is the largest river of the city of Iași, in eastern Romania. It is a right tributary of the river Jijia. Its name is derived from Cuman and it means "muddy river". The Bahlui has a length of 119 km and a catchment area of 1967&n ...

, headquartered at Podu Iloaiei #Plasa Cârligătura, headquartered at

#Plasa Codru, headquartered at Buciumii (at that time a commune, now Bucium District in the city of Iași)Școala Gimnazială „Veronica Micle” din Iași
/ref> #Plasa Copou, headquartered at Iași #Plasa Turia, headquartered at Șipotele #Plasa

, headquartered at Ungheni-Târg, now the city of

in the Republic of Moldova Iasi County included two urban localities: Iaşi (county seat) and urban commune Târgu Frumos, located at the western border of the county.

Population

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 275,796 inhabitants, 81.6% Romanians, 14.6% Jews, 0.6% Russians, 0.5% Hungarians, 0.4% Germans, as well as other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 246-247 From the religious point of view, the population was 82.0% Eastern Orthodox, 14.9% Jewish, 2.3% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

Urban population

In 1930, the county's urban population was 107,804 inhabitants, 102,872 in Iaşi and 4,932 in Târgu Frumos, comprising 60.8% Romanians, 33.6% Jews, 0.9% Germans, 0.9% Russians, as well as other minorities. In the urban area, languages were Romanian (72.5%), followed by Yiddish (22.2%), Russian (1.8%), German (0.9%), as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of Eastern Orthodox (61.4%), Jewish (34.4%), Roman Catholic (3.0%), as well as other minorities.

References

External links

Iași County - A brief history
at agerpres.ro
Iasi - the county of centuries-old trees
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iasi County Counties of 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