Drochia () is a city in the northern part of Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The city is located north of the national capital, Chișinău, and north-east of the Romanian city of Iași. The average elevation of Drochia is 226 meters. The population at the 2004 census was 16,606.
The name of the city comes from a local type of bird, called dropie (English: great bustard).
History Drochia is first mentioned by chroniclers in 1777. By 1830 it was a small settlement encompassing 25 families. A document dating from 1847 notes that a small grape-processing plant, the town's first industrial enterprise, had been built. Two mills situated on a local stream were built in 1875.
More intensive industrial development emerged after the railway first came through at the end of the 19th century. At the 1930 census, the locality (then a village) was known as Drochia-Gară (literally Drochia Station), and had a population of only 595. It was part of Plasa Bădiceni of the Soroca County.
Drochia received the status of a city in 1973.
Demographics According to the 2024 census, 12,939 inhabitants lived in Drochia, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 13,150 inhabitants were registered.
Historical demographics Ethnic composition (1930 Census) Romanians 181 Ruthenians and Ukrainians 77 Russians 209 Jews 112 Poles 5 Armenians 7 Serbians, Croatians, Slovenes 1 others 3 Total 595
Linguistic composition (1930 Census) Romanian 198 Russian 210 Yiddish 102 Ukrainian 80 Polish 4 other 1 Total 595
Media
Radio Chișinău 93.8 FM Vocea Basarabiei 101,0 Radio Studentus www.studentus.md/listen.html
Mayors of Drochia Anatol Pleșca 1991–1999 Valeriu Ceban 1999–2007 Grigore Melnic 2007 – 2011 Igor Grozavu 2011 – 2015 Nina Cereteu 2015 - 2023 Nina Cereteu 2023 - present
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities Drochia is twinned with: Borisov, Belarus Dorohoi, Romania Kolomyia, Ukraine Rădăuți, Romania Pineto, Italy
Notable people Romeo V. Turcan, professor Victor Pînzaru, athlete
Photo gallery
References
External links Drochia Stadium on divizianationala.com Weather in Drochia Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School Webpage Drochia in Photos Meteo Moldova Drochia.md