Otelec (known as Ungureni in the interwar period; ) is a commune in

Timiș County Timiș () is a county (''județ'') of western Romania on the border with Hungary and Serbia, in the historical regions of Romania, historical region of Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the westernmost and the largest county in Ro ...

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 ...

. Established in 1856, it was abolished in 1968 and absorbed into Uivar. It was recreated in 2008. It is composed of two villages, Iohanisfeld and Otelec (commune seat).

History

Otelec was first mentioned in 1452 as ''Feltelek'', when it belonged to Keve County. During the Ottoman period (16th–17th centuries) the locality was depopulated, and the uncultivated lands were transformed into swamps. It was not until 1793–1795, under the Habsburgs, that the settlement was re-established with families of colonists, mostly Hungarians, brought by Count Johann von Buttler from the southern counties of the empire. From 1856 it became an independent commune. At the same time, the first state school was opened (extended in 1885) and the construction of the Roman Catholic church was completed. Iohanisfeld was founded by German ( Banat Swabian) settlers in 1805, about 90 years after the beginning of the colonization of

Banat Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...

. They came mostly from neighboring localities, such as Jimbolia, Lenauheim or other Swabian communes, on the estates of Count Johann von Buttler with whom they concluded leases. In honor of the tenant Johann, German peasants called the locality ''Johannisfeld'' ("John's field"). The colonists settled here quickly and, only two years after the construction of the first houses, they started the construction of the first school. Later, the colony became the property of the state, and the inhabitants were able, between 1865–1875, to buy back their properties from it. The Roman Catholic church was built in 1833. Both Otelec and Iohanisfeld were severely affected by the floods of April–May 2005, with most of the built-up areas being covered for months by the overflowing waters of the Timiș River. About two-thirds of the households were totally or partially destroyed. The houses were rebuilt following the reconstruction program coordinated and financed by the Romanian Government. Also, during 2006, from budgetary funds and from aid from the country or abroad, most of the public buildings (kindergarten, school, dispensary, community center, etc.) were rehabilitated or rebuilt.

Demographics

Otelec had a population of 1,499 inhabitants at the 2011 census, down 12% from the 2002 census. Most inhabitants are

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, ...

(57.24%), with a minority of

Hungarians Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an Ethnicity, ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common Culture of Hungary, culture, Hungarian language, language and History of Hungary, history. They also have a notable presence in former pa ...

(37.83%). For 3.8% of the population, ethnicity is unknown. By religion, most inhabitants are Orthodox (50.37%), but there are also minorities of

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

s (38.09%),

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

s (3.67%),

Reformed Reform is beneficial change. Reform, reformed or reforming may also refer to: Media * ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang * Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group * ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine Places * Reform, Al ...

(1.47%) and

Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination that is an outgrowth of the Bible Student movement founded by Charles Taze Russell in the nineteenth century. The denomination is nontrinitarian, millenarian, and restorationist. Russell co-fou ...

(1.27%). For 3.94% of the population, religious affiliation is unknown.

References

{{Authority control Communes in Timiș County Localities in Romanian Banat