Vrancea County

Vrancea () is a county (județ) in Romania, with its seat at Focșani. It is mostly in the historical region of Moldavia but the southern part, below the Milcov River, is in Muntenia.

Demographics At the 2021 census, the county had a population of 335,312 and a population density of .

Romanians – over 98%National Institute of Statistics, "Populația după etnie" Romani, others – 2%.

Year County populationNational Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002" 1948 290,183 1956 326,532 1966 351,292 1977 369,740 1992 392,651 2002 387,632 2011 340,310 2021 335,312

Geography

Vrancea County covers an area of . A curvedly shaped mountainous area, known in Romanian as the Carpații de Curbură, lies in the western part of the county, at the Southern end of the Eastern Carpathians, with heights over . To the East, the heights decrease into hilly areas and the lower valley of the Siret River.

The main tributary of the Siret, which crosses the county, is the Putna River. A right tributary of the Putna is the Milcov, a river that divides Moldavia from Muntenia.

Seismic hazard The territory of Vrancea County is the most seismically active zone of Romania, with yearly earthquakes whose focal depths are between and therefore affect wide regions. This region is sometimes called Europe's "Ring of Fire".

These earthquakes with epicenter in Vrancea are caused by the movements of the nearby fault blocks. Devastating earthquakes measuring 7 to 8 on the Richter scale have been recorded.

The deadliest were the 1977 Vrancea earthquake, which killed over 1,500 people in Romania and Bulgaria, and the 1940 Vrancea earthquake which killed over 1,000 people. The most powerful was the 1802 Vrancea earthquake with an estimated intensity of 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale, but which killed only 4 people. Other notable earthquakes were the 1738 Vrancea earthquake, the 1838 Vrancea earthquake and the 1986 Vrancea earthquake.

Neighbours

Vaslui County and Galați County to the East. Covasna County to the West. Bacău County to the North. Buzău County to the South and Brăila County to the South-East.

Economy

The county is famous for its wines, being the biggest wine producer in Romania. Over 11% of the county surface is covered with vines. The county's best known wine regions are Panciu – , Odobești – , and Cotești.

In addition, the county's main industries are the following: Foods and beverages; Textiles; Paper manufacturing and furniture making; Mechanical parts and components; Cookware and bakeware production.

Tourism

County's main destinations: The city of Focșani; Vrancea Mountains; Soveja resort; Tulnici – Lepșa – Greșu tourist areas; Eternal Fire (Focul viu in Romanian) in Andreiașu; Wine tasting and sales around Panciu, Odobești, and Cotești; The Mausoleum at Mărășești; Putna-Vrancea Natural Park.

Politics The Vrancea County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 32 councilors, with the following party composition:

Party Seats Current County Council National Liberal Party (PNL) 13 Social Democratic Party (PSD) 13 Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) 3 United Right Alliance (ADU) 3

Administrative divisions

Vrancea County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 68 communes Municipalities Adjud Focșani – county seat; population: 66,719 (as of 2021) Towns Mărășești Odobești Panciu

Communes Andreiașu de Jos Bălești Bârsești Biliești Boghești Bolotești Bordești Broșteni Câmpineanca Câmpuri Cârligele Chiojdeni Ciorăști Corbița Cotești Dumbrăveni Dumitrești Fitionești Garoafa Golești Gologanu Gugești Gura Caliței Homocea Jariștea Jitia Măicănești Mera Milcovul Movilița Nănești Năruja Negrilești Nereju Nistorești Obrejița Paltin Păulești Păunești Ploscuțeni Poiana Cristei Popești Pufești Răcoasa Răstoaca Reghiu Ruginești Sihlea Slobozia Bradului Slobozia Ciorăști Soveja Spulber Străoane Suraia Tâmboești Tănăsoaia Tătăranu Tulnici Țifești Urechești Valea Sării Vânători Vârteșcoiu Vidra Vintileasca Vizantea-Livezi Vrâncioaia Vulturu

Vrancea County

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