Bistrița-Năsăud is a county (județ) of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Bistrița.

Name

In Hungarian, it is known as Beszterce-Naszód megye, and in German as Kreis Bistritz-Nassod. The name is identical with the county created in 1876, Beszterce-Naszód County in the Kingdom of Hungary (the county was recreated in 1940 after the Second Vienna Award, as it became part of Hungary again until 1944). Except these, as part of Romania, until 1925 the former administrative organizations were kept when a new county system was introduced. Between 1925–1940 and 1945–1950, most of its territory belonged to the Năsăud County, with smaller parts belonging to the Mureș, Cluj, and Someș counties.

Geography

The county has a total area of 5355 km2. One third of this surface represents the mountains from the Eastern Carpathians group: the Țibleș, Rodna, Bârgău, and Călimani Mountains. The rest of the territory represents the North-East side of the Transylvanian Plateau. The main river crossing the county is the Someșul Mare. On the Bistrița River there is a big dam and a lake.

Neighbours

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, the county had a population of 295,988 and the population density was.

Politics

The Bistrița-Năsăud County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 30 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Bistrița-Năsăud County has 1 municipality, 3 towns, and 58 communes.

People

Natives of the county include: