Papiu Ilarian (formerly Budiul de Câmpie; ) is a commune in Mureș County, Transylvania, Romania composed of five villages: Dobra (Dobratanya), Merișoru (Bugusalja), Papiu Ilarian, Șandru (Sándortelep), and Ursoaia (Urszajatelep). Its first written mention is from 1332 as Budun (Bodon). The prefix "Mező", meaning 'field', in its Hungarian name refers to the Mezőség subregion where it lies. Romanian politician Alexandru Papiu Ilarian was born here in 1828, and the commune was named after him in 1925. The commune is situated on the Transylvanian Plateau, at an altitude of 361 m, on the banks of the river Icland. It is located in the western part of the county, 37 km from the county seat, Târgu Mureș.

Demographics

The commune has a Hungarian majority. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 1,013, of which 56.17% were Hungarians and 42.84% Romanians. At the 2021 census, Papiu Ilarian had 827 inhabitants, 57.19% of whom were Hungarians and 41.23% Romanians.