Dâmbovița County (also spelt Dîmbovița) is a county (județ) of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Târgoviște, the most important economic, political, administrative and cultural center of the county. It is a traditional administrative unit, first attested in 1512.

Demographics

In 2021, it had a population of 479,404 and the population density was 120/km2. It is one of the most densely populated counties in Romania.

Name

The county is named after the Dâmbovița River, which is a name of Slavic origin, derived from Дъб, dâmb, meaning "oak", as it once flowed through the oak forests of the Wallachian Plain.

Geography

Dâmbovița county has a total area of 4,054 km2 (1.7% of the country's surface). It is situated in the south-central part of the country, on the Ialomița and Dâmbovița river basins. The highest altitude is Omu Peak (2505 m) in the Bucegi Mountains, while the lowest is between 120–125 m, in the Titu Plain. The administrative units of the county are: 2 municipalities, 5 cities, 82 communes, all encompassing an additional 361 villages.

Neighbouring counties

Economy

One of the biggest steel factories in Romania is located In Târgoviște. Also, oil is extracted and refined in the county. The predominant industries in the county are:

Tourism

The main tourist destinations are:

Trivia

Politics

The Dâmbovița County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Dâmbovița County 2 municipalities, 5 towns and 82 communes

Historical county

Historically, the county was located in the central-southern part of Greater Romania, in the northern part of the historical region of Muntenia. The county included a large part of the present county. It was bordered to the west by the counties of Muscel and Argeș, to the north by Brașov County, to the east by Prahova County, and to the south by the counties of Ilfov and Vlașca.

Administration

The county was originally divided administratively into six districts (plăși): Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized into eight districts by the abolition of Plasa Finta and the establishment of three new districts in its place:

Population

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 309,676 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 96.9% Romanians, 2.1% Romanies, 0.2% Jews, 0.2% Hungarians, 0.1% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 98.9% Eastern Orthodox, 0.3% Roman Catholic, 0.3% Jewish, 0.1% Adventist, 0.1% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.

Urban population

In 1930, the county's urban population was 33,398 inhabitants, comprising 63.2% Romanians, 2.0% Jews, 1.3% Romanies, 1.2% Hungarians, 0.5% Greeks, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 94.8% Eastern Orthodox, 2.1% Jewish, 1.5% Roman Catholic, 0.6% Greek Catholic, 0.3% Calvinist, 0.3% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.