Soroca

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City in Soroca District, Moldova

title: "Soroca" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["soroca", "cities-and-towns-in-moldova", "municipalities-of-moldova", "populated-places-on-the-dniester", "capitals-of-the-counties-of-bessarabia", "soroksky-uyezd", "soroca-county-(romania)", "historic-jewish-communities-in-moldova", "romani-communities-in-moldova", "soroca-district", "holocaust-locations-in-moldova"] description: "City in Soroca District, Moldova" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soroca" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in Soroca District, Moldova ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameSoroca
native_name
settlement_typeMunicipality
total_type
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width290
image_styleborder:1;
perrow2/2/1
image1Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (44738806701).jpgSoroca Fort
image2Секция борьбы Sala de lupte Fighting school (44721682451).jpg
image3Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (44020425544).jpg
image4Сороки, дворец культуры Palatul de cultura Soroca Palace of Cultura in Soroca (44002348844).jpg
image5Candle monument - Lumânarea Recunoștinței 02.jpgCandle of Gratitude
image_captionSoroca Fort and Soroca
image_shieldInterbelic Soroca CoA.png
pushpin_mapMoldova
pushpin_label_position
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1County
subdivision_name1Soroca
subdivision_name2
parts_style
parts
p2
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameLilia Pilipețchi (PSRM)
established_title
established_date1499
unit_pref
area_total_km211.88
area_land_km2
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m45
population_as_of2024
population_footnotes
population_total21,135
population_density_km2auto
timezoneEET
utc_offset+2
timezone_DSTEEST
utc_offset_DST+3
coor_type
coordinates
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_codeMD-3001
area_code+373 230
websiteOfficial website
::

| name = Soroca | official_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Municipality | total_type = | motto = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 2/2/1 | image1 = Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (44738806701).jpgSoroca Fort | image2 = Секция борьбы Sala de lupte Fighting school (44721682451).jpg | image3 = Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (44020425544).jpg | image4 = Сороки, дворец культуры Palatul de cultura Soroca Palace of Cultura in Soroca (44002348844).jpg | image5 = Candle monument - Lumânarea Recunoștinței 02.jpgCandle of Gratitude | image_caption = Soroca Fort and Soroca | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = Interbelic Soroca CoA.png | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Moldova | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = County | subdivision_name1 = Soroca | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | seat_type = | seat = | parts_type = | parts_style = Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5-- | parts = | p1 = | p2 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Lilia Pilipețchi (PSRM) | established_title = | established_date = 1499 | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 11.88 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 45 | elevation_max_m = | elevation_min_m = | population_as_of = 2024 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 21,135 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = EET | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = EEST | utc_offset_DST = +3 | coor_type = | coordinates = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = MD-3001 | area_code = +373 230 | website = Official website | footnotes =

Soroca is a city and municipality in northern Moldova, situated on the Dniester River about 160 km north of Chișinău. It is the administrative center of the Soroca District.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/СорокиЗемство.jpg" caption="Zemstva of Soroca, 18th-19th century"] ::

It is known for its well-preserved stronghold, established by the Moldavian prince Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare in Romanian) in 1499. The origins of the name Soroca are not fully known. Soroca (сорока) is the East Slavic word for magpie. Its location is only a few kilometers from the Moldova–Ukraine border.

The original wooden fort, which defended a ford over the Dniester, was an important link in the chain of fortifications which comprised four forts (e.g., Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, then known as Akkerman, and Khotyn) on the Dniester, two forts on the Danube, and three forts on the north borders of medieval Moldavia. Between 1543 and 1546, under the rule of Peter IV Rareș, the fort was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five bastions situated at equal distances.

During the Great Turkish War, John III Sobieski's forces successfully defended the fort against the Ottomans. It was of vital military importance during the Pruth River Campaign of Peter the Great in 1711. The stronghold was sacked by the Russians in the Austro-Russian–Turkish War (1735–39). The Soroca Fort is an important attraction in Soroca, having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca to the present day.

The locality was greatly extended in the 19th century, during a period of relative prosperity. Soroca became a regional center featuring large squares, modernized streets, hospitals, grammar schools and conventionalized churches. During the Soviet period, the city became an important industrial center for northern Moldova.,"

Soroca was known for producing grapes, wheat, maize, and tobacco in 1919.

The overwhelming majority of the town's sizeable Jewish populated was killed in the Holocaust during World War II, both before and after the deportation of the Jews to Transnistria.Wolf Moskovich, "Soroca", in The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe", at https://encyclopedia.yivo.org/article/942.

Climate

The climate in Soroca is a warm-summer subtype (Köppen: Dfb) of the humid continental climate.

| location = Soroca (1991–2020, extremes 1946–2021) | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan record high C = 12.4 | Feb record high C = 19.9 | Mar record high C = 23.7 | Apr record high C = 31.0 | May record high C = 34.3 | Jun record high C = 37.2 | Jul record high C = 38.4 | Aug record high C = 39.7 | Sep record high C = 37.4 | Oct record high C = 30.1 | Nov record high C = 23.2 | Dec record high C = 17.5 | year record high C = 39.7 | Jan high C = 0.0 | Feb high C = 2.1 | Mar high C = 8.3 | Apr high C = 16.3 | May high C = 22.0 | Jun high C = 25.6 | Jul high C = 27.5 | Aug high C = 27.4 | Sep high C = 21.5 | Oct high C = 14.5 | Nov high C = 7.0 | Dec high C = 1.4 | year high C = 14.5 | Jan mean C = -2.9 | Feb mean C = -1.4 | Mar mean C = 3.5 | Apr mean C = 10.4 | May mean C = 16.0 | Jun mean C = 19.6 | Jul mean C = 21.3 | Aug mean C = 20.8 | Sep mean C = 15.6 | Oct mean C = 9.5 | Nov mean C = 3.8 | Dec mean C = -1.3 | year mean C = 9.6 | Jan low C = -5.3 | Feb low C = -4.3 | Mar low C = -0.5 | Apr low C = 5.0 | May low C = 10.2 | Jun low C = 14.0 | Jul low C = 15.5 | Aug low C = 14.7 | Sep low C = 10.2 | Oct low C = 5.3 | Nov low C = 1.1 | Dec low C = -3.7 | year low C = 5.2 | Jan record low C = -34.9 | Feb record low C = -29.9 | Mar record low C = -22.4 | Apr record low C = -14.2 | May record low C = -2.5 | Jun record low C = 3.4 | Jul record low C = 6.2 | Aug record low C = 3.3 | Sep record low C = -6.3 | Oct record low C = -12.7 | Nov record low C = -21.4 | Dec record low C = -30.0 | year record low C = -34.9 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 30 | Feb precipitation mm = 28 | Mar precipitation mm = 31 | Apr precipitation mm = 39 | May precipitation mm = 56 | Jun precipitation mm = 67 | Jul precipitation mm = 80 | Aug precipitation mm = 50 | Sep precipitation mm = 54 | Oct precipitation mm = 38 | Nov precipitation mm = 40 | Dec precipitation mm = 28 | year precipitation mm = 542 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 6 | Feb precipitation days = 6 | Mar precipitation days = 6 | Apr precipitation days = 7 | May precipitation days = 8 | Jun precipitation days = 7 | Jul precipitation days = 8 | Aug precipitation days = 6 | Sep precipitation days = 6 | Oct precipitation days = 5 | Nov precipitation days = 6 | Dec precipitation days = 6 | year precipitation days = 76 | Jan humidity = 84 | Feb humidity = 82 | Mar humidity = 77 | Apr humidity = 66 | May humidity = 64 | Jun humidity = 67 | Jul humidity = 68 | Aug humidity = 67 | Sep humidity = 70 | Oct humidity = 76 | Nov humidity = 84 | Dec humidity = 86 | year humidity = 74 |source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230821004939/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Moldova/CSV/Soroca_33678.csv | archive-date = 21 August 2023 | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Moldova/CSV/Soroca_33678.csv | title = Soroca Climate Normals 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 21 August 2023}} |source 2 = Serviciul Hidrometeorologic de Stat (extremes, relative humidity){{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250418163724/https://www.meteo.md/images/uploads/news/2023/05/Ghid%20Climatic%20RM_2024.pdf | archive-date = 18 April 2025 | url = https://www.meteo.md/images/uploads/news/2023/05/Ghid%20Climatic%20RM_2024.pdf | title = GHID CLIMATIC al Republicii Moldova | publisher = Serviciul Hidrometeorologic de Stat | language = ro | access-date = 18 April 2025}}

Demographics

According to the 2024 census, 21,135 inhabitants lived in Soroca (making it the tenth largest city in Moldova), a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 22,196 inhabitants were registered.

|thumb=left |caption=Ethnic composition of Soroca (2024) |label1=Moldovans|value1=82.5|color1=#8A2BE2 |label2=Romanians|value2=6.6|color2=#8080ff |label3=Romani|value3=4.0|color3=#80ffff |label4=Ukrainians|value4=3.8|color4=#ffff80 |label5=Russians|value5=2.6|color5=#c08080 |label6=Others|value6=0.4|color6=#9f9f9f}} |thumb=right |caption=Linguistic composition of Soroca (2024) |label1=Moldovan|value1=57.5|color1=#8A2BE2 |label2=Romanian|value2=27.1|color2=#8080ff |label3=Russian|value3=8.9|color3=#c08080 |label4=Romani|value4=4.2|color4=#80ffff |label5=Ukrainian|value5=2.0|color5=#ffff80 |label6=Other|value6=0.2|color6=#9f9f9f}}

|1867|7758|1882|9225 |1897 | 15351 |1930 | 15001 |1959 | 15195 |1970 | 21924 |1979 | 30365 |1989 | 42297 |2004 | 28362 |2014 | 22196 |2024 | 21135 |source =

The population was estimated at 35,000 in 1919. It consisted mainly of Jews. Romanians, Germans, and Russians also lived in the city. Before the Holocaust, Soroca had a Jewish population of around 18,000, but there are only around 40 Jews living there today.

The city has a sizable Romani minority and is popularly known as the "Romani capital of Moldova".

Mayor

The Mayor of Soroca is head of the executive branch of Soroca City Council.

::data[format=table]

List of mayors of SorocaNameFromUntilPartyPool
url=http://www.timpul.md/articol/ce-se-intampla-la-soroca--24071.htmltitle=Ce se întâmplă la Soroca?}}20032007PCRM2003
Victor Său20072011PNL2007
Elena Bodnarenco20112015PCRM2011
Victor Său20152019PLDM2015
Lilia Pilipețchi2019PresentPSRM2019
::

Media

Natives

Gallery

Image:Luminarea 2016.jpg|Candle of Gratitude can be seen at night from Otaci and Camenca. File:Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (42928896330).jpg|Soroca Fort File:Сороки, этнографический музей Muzeul de istorie si etnografie din Soroca Soroca Ethnografic Museum (42870845280).jpg|Museum Image:Manastirea Rughi Soroca 39L.JPG|Rudi Monastery File:Stamp of Moldova md022std.jpg|Mihai Eminescu File:Сорокский уезд № 10 (1898 г.).jpg|Soroca 1898 local stamp

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Soroca is twinned with:

References

References

  2. (2017). "Characteristics - Population (population by communes, religion, citizenship)". [[National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova]].
  3. [http://lex.justice.md/md/368393/ LEGE Nr. 248 din 03.11.2016 pentru modificarea și completarea Legii nr. 764-XV din 27 decembrie 2001 privind organizarea administrativ-teritorială a Republicii Moldova] {{in lang. ro
  4. [http://www.tur.md/eng/city/18/ Tourist towns of Moldova] {{webarchive. link. (22 July 2011)
  5. Kaba, John. (1919). "Politico-economic Review of Basarabia". American Relief Administration.
  6. "Rezultatele finale ale Recensământului Populației și Locuințelor 2024: Caracteristici etnoculturale ale populației". National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova }} {{in lang.
  7. "2014 Moldova Census of Population and Housing". National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova }} {{in lang.
  8. (5 December 2013). "Chisinau Recognizes Romanian As Official Language". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  9. (2023-03-16). "Moldovan parliament approves law on Romanian language". Reuters.
  10. . (1890). "Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom XI".
  11. "Demoscope Weekly - Annex. Statistical indicators reference.".
  12. "Cities of Moldova".
  13. Steve Kokker, Cathryn Kemp (2004) "Romania and Moldova" (a travel guide), {{ISBN
  14. "Loading".
  15. "Ce se întâmplă la Soroca?".
  16. [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]], [http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/1848245.html „Nici tu ploaie ca lumea, nici tu limpezirea apelor în domeniul politicii”]
  17. [http://www.api.md/files/250407_reportereuropean.pdf Reporter european] {{webarchive. link. (22 July 2011)

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

sorocacities-and-towns-in-moldovamunicipalities-of-moldovapopulated-places-on-the-dniestercapitals-of-the-counties-of-bessarabiasoroksky-uyezdsoroca-county-(romania)historic-jewish-communities-in-moldovaromani-communities-in-moldovasoroca-districtholocaust-locations-in-moldova