Vaslui County (Romanian pronunciation: [vasˈluj]) is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Western Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.
Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 395,499 and the population density was 74/km2.
Romanians - over 98%
Romas, other ethnicities - c. 2%
Geography
This county has an area of 5,318 km2.
The county lies on a plane, being bounded by the Prut River on the east and crossed in its centre by Bârlad River, a tributary of Siret River.
Neighbours
Republic of Moldova to the east - Cahul District, Hîncești District, Leova District and Cantemir District.
Neamț County, Bacău County and Vrancea County to the west.
Iași County to the north.
Galați County to the south.
People
Dimitrie Cantemir
Alexandru Ioan Cuza
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Alexandra Nechita
Ana Pauker
Ștefan Procopiu
Emil Racoviță
Constantin Tănase
Nicolae Tonitza
Alexandru Vlahuță
Economy
Vaslui County was heavily industrialised during the Communist period and had large industrial complexes that went bankrupt during the 1990s. Today, the county's industry is mainly agricultural one, with other industries concentrated in the main urban areas.
County's main industries:
mechanical components;
chemicals;
food stuffs;
textiles.
Tourism
The main tourist destinations are the cities of Vaslui, Bârlad, and Huși. The Vaslui County Council, the county councils of the Leova and Hîncești districts in Republic of Moldova, and the European Union (through the Phare program), have set up a program which seeks to promote tourism in these regions. The main tourist attractions of the Vaslui-Hîncești-Leova touristic program are, among others, the medieval and early modern churches and monasteries, the Manuc Bei Hunting Palace and the Manuc - Mirzaian Manor Palace (similar to Manuc's Inn in Bucharest) in Hîncești, as well as the region's natural riches.
Politics
The Vaslui County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 34 councilors, with the following party composition:
Administrative divisions
Vaslui County has 3 municipalities, 2 towns and 81 communes
Municipalities
Bârlad
Huși
Vaslui: capital city;
Towns
Murgeni
Negrești
Communes
Historical county
The county was located in the central-eastern part of Romania, in the center of the historical region of Moldavia. At present, most of its territory is included in the current Vaslui County borders, smaller parts being included in Iași County and Bacău County. It bordered on the north with the Iași County, to the west with Roman County, to the east with Fălciu County and to the south with the Tutova and Bacău Counties.
Administration
The county was originally divided administratively into four districts (plăși):
Plasa Crasna, headquartered at Crasna
Plasa Racova, headquartered at Racova
Plasa Stemnic
Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized, being divided into three different districts:
Plasa Movila lui Burcel, headquartered at Codăești
Plasa Peneș Curcanul, headquartered at Pungești
Plasa Ștefan cel Mare, headquartered at Negrești
Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 139,503 inhabitants, 93.4% Romanians, 3.6% Jews, 2.3% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 95.7% Eastern Orthodox, 3.6% Jewish, 0.2% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.
Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 15,310 inhabitants, comprising 72.5% Romanians, 21.4% Jews, 3.0% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 76.4% Eastern Orthodox, 21.4% Jewish, 1.1% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.