Sibiu County

Updated on Nov 26, 2024

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Country Romania Historical region Transylvania Telephone code (+40) 269 or (+40) 369 Area 5,432 km²		Development region Centru Area rank 24th ISO 3166 code RO-SB Capital Sibiu

Destinations Sibiu, Mediaș, Păltiniș, Ocna Sibiului, Rășinari Clubs and Teams CS Gaz Metan Mediaș, FC Inter Sibiu Points of interest Brukenthal National Museum, Council Tower of Sibiu, ASTRA National Museum, Bâlea Lake, Holy Trinity Cathedral - Sibiu Colleges and Universities Lucian Blaga University, Rumänisch‑Deutsche Universität, Alma Mater University of Sibiu

Sibiu ([siˈbiw]) is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Transylvania, with the capital city Sibiu.

Map of Sibiu, Romania

Name

In Hungarian, it is known as Szeben megye, and in German as Kreis Hermannstadt. During Austro-Hungarian administration, from 1876 to 1918, there was a county with similar name (see: Szeben County).

Demographics

In 2011, it had a population of 375,992 and the population density was 78/km².

At the 2011 census the county has the following population indices:

Romanians - 91.25% (or 340,836)

Romani - 4.76% (or 17,901)

Hungarians - 2.89% (or 10,893)

Germans - 1.09% (or 4,117)

Other - 0.1% (or 640)

Religion:

Romanian Orthodox - 90.9%

Greek Catholics - 2.3%

Reformed - 2.0%

Roman Catholics - 1.5%

Pentecostals - 1.1%

Baptists 0.9%

Other - 1.3%

Urbanisation - 5th most urbanised county in Romania:

City dwellers: 277,574 (or 65.8%)

Village dwelers: 144,150 (or 34.2%)

Traditionally, the biggest minority in the county were Germans, but their numbers have decreased since World War II and especially the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

The south side of the county, closer to the mountains was mainly inhabited by Romanians (Mărginimea Sibiului), and the north side of the country - the Transylvanian Plateau was inhabited evenly by Germans and Romanians, but most Saxon villages are now deserted. The Roma population, mainly from southern Romania, was placed close to the villages in the Communist period and have since increased their numbers.

Geography

This county has a total area of 5,432 km².

In the South side there are the Carpathian Mountains (Southern Carpathians) - Făgăraș Mountains with heights over 2500 m, Lotru and Cindrel which make up to 30% of the county's surface. The Olt River crosses the mountains over to the South of Romania in Sibiu County forming one of the most accessible link between Transylvania and Wallachia. In the North side there is the Transylvanian Plateau.

The most important rivers crossing the county are the Olt in the South with Cibin its main effluent, and the Târnava in the North.

Neighbours

Brașov County in the East.

Alba County in the West.

Mureș County in the North.

Vâlcea County in the South.

Argeş County in the South-East.ș

Economy

Sibiu County has one of the most dynamic economies in Romania, and is one of the regions with the highest level of foreign investment.

The predominant industries in the county are:

Machine and automotive components.

Food industry.

Textile industry.

Wood industry.

The biggest natural resource in the county is natural gas, especially in the north side, having one of the largest sources in the country.

In Copșa Mică during the communist period there were two chemical industrial complexes which polluted the environment heavily with carbon black, heavy metals, and other chemical substances. That's why the area is still considered one of the most polluted communities in Europe. Fortunately, after 1989 many of the industrial complexes were shut down and the area is slowly recovering.