History

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Prehistory and antiquity

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Migration Period

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Principality of Transylvania

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Map of the Bistritzer District, 1770

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World wars and aftermath

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Villagers from Josenii Bârgăului dancing the hora in 1933

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Geography

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Geographical features of Bistrița-Năsăud County
 
‎ ‎DN17‎ ‎
‎ ‎DN17‎C ‎
‎ ‎DN17‎C ‎
‎ ‎DN17D ‎
‎ ‎DN17D ‎
‎ ‎DN15A ‎
Colibița L.
Lechința
SUHARD Mts.
C i c e u‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ H i l l s
N ă s ă u d‎ ‎ ‎ H i l l s
Ș i e u ‎ ‎ H i l l s
B i s t r i ț a ‎ ‎ H i l l s
Bistrița
Depr.
Dumitra Depr.
 
Rivers[1]
 ‎ Mountain peaks
Rodna Mountains Gurghiu Mountains
1. Ineu 2,279 m 4. Bistriciorul 1,990 m
2. Gârgalău 2,158 m Bârgău Mountains
3. Repede 2,074 m 5. Heniu Mare 1,611 m
Altitude profile
 
 
Colibița Lake, a reservoir on the Bistrița and tourist attraction

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Climate

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Monthly temperature and precipitation values for various settlements in Bistrița-Năsăud County
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year  
Köppen climate map of Bistrița-Năsăud County
Bistrița Mean daily maximum (°C) 1 4 10 16 21 24 26 26 21 15 8 2 14.5
Mean daily minimum (°C) -6 -4 0 4 9 13 14 14 10 4 0 -4 4.5
Average precipitation (mm) 43 43 50 63 81 89 91 75 69 52 47 54 757
Beclean Mean daily maximum (°C) 0 3 9 15 20 23 25 25 20 14 8 2 13.7
Mean daily minimum (°C) -6 -4 -1 4 9 12 14 13 9 4 0 -4 4.17
Average precipitation (mm) 57 55 62 68 86 92 96 73 76 60 58 67 850
Șanț Mean daily maximum (°C) -1 1 5 12 17 21 22 23 17 12 6 0 11.3
Mean daily minimum (°C) -8 -6 -3 2 6 10 11 11 7 2 -1 -6 2.1
Average precipitation (mm) 70 72 80 86 115 123 129 97 92 75 71 81 1091

Flora and fauna

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Tree cover map of Bistrița-Năsăud County (Global Forest Watch)

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Demography

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1948233,650—    
1956255,789+9.5%
1966269,954+5.5%
1977286,628+6.2%
1992326,820+14.0%
2002311,657−4.6%
2011286,225−8.2%
2021295,988+3.4%
Source: INS

At the 2021 Romanian census, Bistrița-Năsăud County recorded a population of 295,988, making it one of three counties (alongside Suceava and Ilfov) to register an increase since 2011. According to the same data, the majority of residents were women, totalling 149,918 or 50.4% of the population. The median age was 41.2, lower than the national figure of 43.5.[2]

Ethnicity and religion

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According to the 2021 census, 91.63% of Bistrița-Năsăud County's population identified as Romanian, with notable Romani and Hungarian minorities comprising 4.11% and 4.08% respectively. Geographically, Romanians form larger majorities in the mountainous northern and north-eastern regions, whereas the Romani and Hungarian minorities are more prevalent in the southern and south-western part of the county. In the communes of Poiana Ilvei and Runcu Salvei, all respondents identified as Romanian, whereas Braniștea was the only commune with a Hungarian majority.[2]

Although the county is more ethnically homogenous than the national average, it is also more religiously diverse, with a significant part of the population identifying as Pentecostals—just over 9%—the second highest percentage in any Romanian county, surpassed only by neighbouring Suceava. The majority of residents declared themselves Romanian Orthodox (82.45%), followed by Pentecostals (9.04%), Reformed (3.5%) and Greek Catholics (1.58%), with other groups each accounting for less than one percent of the population.[2]

   
Ethnicity Number Percentage Religion Number Percentage
Romanians 247,935 91.63%
Romanian Orthodox 221,867 82.45%
Romani 11,127 4.11%
Pentecostals 24,334 9.04%
Hungarians 11,049 4.08%
Reformed 9,430 3.50%
Germans 261 0.10%
Greek Catholics 4,264 1.58%
Other 218 0.08%
Roman Catholics 2,374 0.88%
Did not answer 25,398 Baptists 1,832 0.68%
Other 3,879 1.44%
Irreligious, atheists and agnostics 1,120 0.42%
Did not answer 26,888
Source: 2021 Romanian census[2]

Culture

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Bistrița-Năsăud Museum Complex

Bistrița-Năsăud County retains 768 national heritage sites (monumente istorice), the 13th most of any Romanian county.[3] The county seat, Bistrița is home to the Bistrița-Năsăud Museum Complex [ro] which, having been converted from an old garrison building, has in its inventory around 70,000 exhibit pieces.[4] The County Council also manages the George Coșbuc County Library and the Bistriţa-Năsăud County Center for Culture in the same city.[5][6]

The region is home to various traditions, some of which are found throughout Romania—such as the hora,[7] Sânziene festival[8] and colinde during the winter holidays[9]—while others have a more local character. The latter include rituals such as Craii de la Mocod, where hard-working village youths are honored for their efforts over the past year. They carry plum trees adorned by local girls and oversee the symbolic judgment of those who committed serious misdeeds during that time. The entire event is accompanied by food, song and dance.[10] Traditional clothing of the area incorporates embroidered variations on the ie as well as straw hats sporting peacock feathers called clopuri, traditionally worn by unmarried men.[11]

Economy

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Employment sectors of Bistrița-Năsăud County in 2023[12]

Bistrița-Năsăud County is part of the Nord-Vest development region, alongside the counties of Bihor, Cluj, Maramureș, Satu Mare and Sălaj. Estimates of nominal GDP per capita place the county either last or second-to-last in the development region and between 26th and 33rd nationally.[13][14][15] Conversely, Bistrița has the fourth lowest cost of living of all county seats in Romania.[16] The county's economy is primarily a blend of industry and agriculture, with a strong focus on the manufacturing of machine parts, electrical equipment and devices, as well as activity in the metallurgical, food and textile industries.[1] Economic units are concentrated in urban areas, especially in Bistrița.[17]

Agriculture

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Given the low level of urbanisation (40.2%, below the national average),[18] agriculture has maintained an important role in the county's economy. Pastures and hayfields make up the largest share of agricultural land at 70.4%, followed by arable land (25.6%), permanent croplands (2.8%), and household gardens (1.1%).[19]

Agricultural crop production (2022)
Crop tonnes
Lucerne
82,343
Corn
82,175
Potatoes
37,577
Wheat, rye
14,856
Cabbage
11,141
Barley
5,405
Tomatoes
3,008
Onions
2,768
Oat
2,309
Sunflowers
1,150
Number of animals (2022)
Type number
Poultry
~592,400
Sheep
~346,400
Cattle
~80,400
Pigs
~51,200
Goats
~19,300
Source: National Institute of Statistics[12]

Industry

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Manufacturing in urban centers, along with high-performance wood harvesting in the north-eastern part of the county, represents the main industrial activity.[20] As a result, key industrial products include cold-drawn steel wires, metallurgical and refractory equipment, electrical cables and conductors, insulating materials, lead–acid batteries, timber and wooden furniture, processed plastic products and glassware.[17] Five of the twenty highest-earning electrical cable producers in Romania are based in Bistrița-Năsăud County.[21]

Tourism

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Hotel near Colibița Lake

The county’s main tourist attractions include its numerous nature reserves, such as the Rodna Mountains and Călimani National Parks, as well as balneoclimatic resorts like Sângeorz-Băi. Other popular destinations include Colibița Lake and Valea Blaznei.[22] Most of the Via Transilvanica's Highlands (Ținutul de Sus) segment is located in Bistrița-Năsăud County,[23] with the organization headquartered in Piatra Fântânele (Tihuța Pass).[24] In 2023, 112,546 tourists were accommodated, an increase of 19,269 compared to 2022.[12]

Administrative divisions

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Municipalities
Municipii
A. Bistrița
Towns
Orașe
B. Beclean C. Năsăud D. Sângeorz-Băi
Communes
Comune
1. Bistrița Bârgăului 21. Livezile 41. Runcu Salvei
2. Braniștea 22. Lunca Ilvei 42. Salva
3. Budacu de Jos 23. Maieru 43. Sânmihaiu de Câmpie
4. Budești 24. Matei 44. Silivașu de Câmpie
5. Căianu Mic 25. Măgura Ilvei 45. Spermezeu
6. Cetate 26. Mărișelu 46. Șanț
7. Chiochiș 27. Miceștii de Câmpie 47. Șieu
8. Chiuza 28. Milaș 48. Șieu-Măgheruș
9. Ciceu-Giurgești 29. Monor 49. Șieu-Odorhei
10. Ciceu-Mihăiești 30. Negrilești 50. Șieuț
11. Coșbuc 31. Nimigea 51. Șintereag
12. Dumitra 32. Nușeni 52. Târlișua
13. Dumitrița 33. Parva 53. Teaca
14. Feldru 34. Petru Rareș 54. Telciu
15. Galații Bistriței 35. Poiana Ilvei 55. Tiha Bârgăului
16. Ilva Mare 36. Prundu Bârgăului 56. Uriu
17. Ilva Mică 37. Rebra 57. Urmeniș
18. Josenii Bârgăului 38. Rebrișoara 58. Zagra
19. Lechința 39. Rodna
20. Leșu 40. Romuli

Bistrița-Năsăud County is divided into one municipality, three towns and 58 communes, the latter comprising a total of 235 villages.[12] In 2021, the county seat and only municipality—Bistrița—registered the highest population (78,877), while Silivașu de Câmpie commune had the fewest residents (841). The average population of a commune in Bistrița-Năsăud County was 3,185.[2]

Politics

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Bistrița-Năsăud County Council
9th County Council Legislature (2024-2028)
Leadership
President
Radu Moldovan, PSD
since 10 June 2012
Vicepresidents
Daniel Tamaș, PSD
Cristian Cârlig, PNL
Structure
 
Political groups
  PSD (14)
  PNL (10)
  AUR (4)
  UDMR (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
9 June 2024
Next election
2028
Website
County Counci
Electoral history of the Bistrița-Năsăud County Council (2000-present)[25]
Election County Council County Council President
2000 Gheorghe Marinescu PDSR
2004 PSD
2008 Liviu Rusu PDL
2012 Radu Moldovan PSD
2016
2020
2024

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Local government

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National politics

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Symbols

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Coat of arms of Bistrița-Năsăud County
Composition
A quartered shield;
  • In the first quarter, on an azure field, rests an aquila in natural color, holding in its red beak a golden cross and bearing a silver shield with the initials "VRR" (Virtus Romana Rediviva); At the base of the eagle lies an open book in white.
  • In the second quarter, on a golden field, rests the she-wolf nurturing Romulus and Remus, also in natural color.
  • In the third quarter, on a red field, rests an irregular shield with a golden border, also in red; Inside it lies the head of an aurochs in natural color, with a golden six-pointed star between its horns.
  • In the fourth quarter, on a silver field, rests a person dressed in traditional costume, holding a spear in his right hand, and in his left, a shield with a floral ornament.[26]
Symbolism
The aquila, its motto (shared with the Transylvanian School[27] and the Năsăud border guards[28]) and the she-wolf evoke the Latin origins of the Romanian people; The person calls back to the same Romanian border guards from Năsăud; The shield with the aurochs head alludes to the local land holdings of Moldavian lords in feudal times.[26]
 

Notable people

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  1. ^ a b Bistrița-Năsăud County Council (portalbn.ro). "Prezentarea generală a judeţului Bistriţa-Năsăud" [General presentation of Bistriţa-Năsăud County] (PDF). Strategia Județului Bistrița-Năsăud (in Romanian).
  2. ^ a b c d e "Rezultate definitive" [Definitive results]. recensamantromania.ro (2021 Romanian Census) (in Romanian).
  3. ^ "Lista Monumentelor Istorice" [Historical Monuments List]. Romanian Ministry of Culture (cultura.ro) (in Romanian).
  4. ^ "Complexul Muzeal Bistrița-Năsăud" [Bistrița-Năsăud Museum Complex]. bistrita.com (in Romanian).
  5. ^ "Biblioteca Judeţeană „George Coșbuc", Bistriţa-Năsăud" ["George Coșbuc" County Library, Bistriţa-Năsăud]. bjbn.ro (in Romanian).
  6. ^ "Despre noi" [About us]. CENTRUL JUDEȚEAN PENTRU CULTURĂ BISTRIȚA-NĂSĂUD (in Romanian).
  7. ^ Tobias, Andreea; Sabău, Cristiana (6 May 2013). "Tradiţii reînviate în Bistriţa-Năsăud: Horă în costume populare, în a doua zi de Paşte" [Traditions revived in Bistriţa-Năsăud: Hora [dance] in folk costumes, on the second day of Easter]. Mediafax (in Romanian).
  8. ^ Lungu, Mia (23 June 2025). "Ritualuri și tradiții de Sânziene, în 2025: Ce sunt focurile de la Maieru, obiceiul care dăinuie de generaţii" [Rituals and traditions of Sânziene, in 2025: What are the fires at Maieru, the custom that has lasted for generations]. Antena 3 CNN (in Romanian).
  9. ^ "BISTRIȚA. „Decembrie de poveste" - concerte de colinde în cadrul Târgului de Crăciun" [BISTRIȚA. "Storybook December" - colindă [carol] concerts at the Christmas Fair]. Info Bistrița (in Romanian). 4 December 2014.
  10. ^ Sabău, Cristiana (13 April 2012). ""Craii de la Mocod", luni, în a doua zi de Paşti" [“Craii de la Mocod”, monday, on the second day of Easter]. Timp Online (in Romanian).
  11. ^ "Costume populare" [Traditional costumes]. Complexul Muzeal Bistrița-Năsăud (in Romanian).
  12. ^ a b c d "ANUARUL STATISTIC al Județului Bistrița-Năsăud - 2024" [STATISTICS YEARBOOK of Bistrița-Năsăud - 2024] (PDF). Regional Directorate of Statistics Bistrița-Năsăud (in Romanian).
  13. ^ "Produsul intern brut pe locuitor la nivel de macroregiune, regiune de dezvoltare şi județ" [Gross domestic product per capita at the macro-region, development region and county level] (PDF). Secretariatul General al Guvernului (General Secretariat of the Government) (in Romanian).
  14. ^ Reștea, Kristina (17 July 2024). "GRAFIC Județe bogate, județe sărace, cu două hărți în paralel: PIB vs venituri. Cum se compară economia Vasluiului cu cea a Clujului sau Teleormanul cu Bucureștiul la salarii?" [GRAPH Rich counties, poor counties, with two maps in parallel: GDP vs income. How does the economy of Vaslui compare to that of Cluj or Teleorman to Bucharest in terms of salaries?]. Economedia (in Romanian).
  15. ^ "Produsul intern brut (PIB) pe cap de locuitor, pe județe, în anul 2022". cumstam.ro (in Romanian). ECOTECA Association. 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ^ Popa, Dan (20 April 2023). "Indexul traiului ieftin. Care sunt orașele din România unde costul vieții e cel mai mic" [Cheap Living Index. Which are the cities in Romania where the cost of living is the lowest?]. HotNews (in Romanian).
  17. ^ a b "Economie" [Economy]. Consiliul Județean Bistrița-Năsăud (Bistrița-Năsăud County Council) (in Romanian).
  18. ^ "ECONOMIA JUDEȚULUI BISTRIȚA NĂSĂUD" [THE ECONOMY OF BISTRIȚA NĂSĂUD COUNTY] (PDF). Comisia Națională de Strategie și Prognoză (National Comission for Strategy and Forecasting) (in Romanian). 2024.
  19. ^ "Recensământul General Agricol 2020 - date finale în judeţul Bistriţa-Năsăud" [General Agricultural Census 2020 - final data in Bistriţa-Năsăud County] (PDF). National Institute of Statistics (Romania) (in Romanian). 2020.
  20. ^ "PLANUL LOCAL DE ACŢIUNE PENTRU ÎNVĂŢĂMÂNT (2017-2025)" [LOCAL ACTION PLAN FOR EDUCATION (2017-2025)] (PDF). Inspectoratul Școlar Județean Bistrița-Nasaud (in Romanian). 2019.
  21. ^ "Bistrițenii urcă 5 firme în TOP20 producători de cabluri din România" [Bistrița[ns] add 5 companies to the TOP20 cable manufacturers in Romania]. Bistrița Business (in Romanian). 9 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Turism si cultura" [Tourism and culture]. Consiliul Județean Bistrița-Năsăud (Bistrița-Năsăud County Council) (in Romanian).
  23. ^ "Ținutul de Sus" [Highlands]. Via Transilvanica (in Romanian).
  24. ^ "About us". Via Transilvanica.
  25. ^ "Elections Database - Romanian Permanent Electoral Authority (ROAEP)". roaep.ro (in Romanian).
  26. ^ a b "HOTĂRÂRE nr. 684 din 30 septembrie 1998" [GOVERNMENT DECISION no. 684 from 30 September 1998]. Portal Legislativ (legislatie.just.ro) (in Romanian).
  27. ^ Caba, Mihai. "ȘCOALA ARDELEANĂ, primul nucleu „iluminist" al culturii române" [THE TRANSYLVANIAN SCHOOL, the first "enlightenment" nucleus of Romanian culture]. Revista Armonii Culturale [Cultural Harmonies Journal] (in Romanian) (8 October 2023 ed.). ISSN 2247-1545.
  28. ^ "MARȘUL REGIMENTULUI ROMÂNESC DE GRĂNICERI DIN NĂSĂUD" [MARCH OF THE ROMANIAN REGIMENT OF BORDER GUARDS FROM NĂSĂUD] (PDF). Acta Musei Napocensis (in Romanian). National Museum of Transylvanian History: 598.


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