Vâlcea County

---

title: "Vâlcea County" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["vâlcea-county", "counties-of-romania", "geography-of-wallachia", "1879-establishments-in-romania", "1938-disestablishments-in-romania", "1940-establishments-in-romania", "1950-disestablishments-in-romania", "1968-establishments-in-romania", "states-and-territories-established-in-1879", "states-and-territories-disestablished-in-1938", "states-and-territories-established-in-1940", "states-and-territories-disestablished-in-1950", "states-and-territories-established-in-1968"] description: "County of Romania" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vâlcea_County" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary County of Romania ::

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

Field	Value
name	Vâlcea County
native_name	Județul Vâlcea
native_name_lang	ro
settlement_type	County
image_skyline	{{multiple image
border	infobox
total_width	300
image_style	infobox
perrow	1/2/1
caption_align	center
image1	Ramnicu Valcea.jpg
caption1	Râmnicu Vâlcea
image2	RO VL Cozia All Saints chapel.jpg
caption2	Cozia Monastery
image3	Pavilionul Central Călimănești.jpg
caption3	Călimănești
image_flag	Valcea flag.webp
image_shield	[[File:Stema Valcea.svg
image_map	Valcea in Romania.svg
map_alt	Administrative map of Romania with Vâlcea county highlighted
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Romania
subdivision_type1	Development region
subdivision_name1	Sud-Vest
subdivision_type2	Historical region
subdivision_name2	Muntenia, Oltenia
seat_type	Capital
seat	Râmnicu Vâlcea
leader_party	PSD
leader_title	President of the County Board
leader_name
leader_title1	Prefect
leader_name1	Mihai Oprea
unit_pref	Metric
area_total_km2	5,765
area_rank	20th
population_total
population_as_of
population_footnotes
population_density_km2	auto
population_rank	26th
area_code_type	Telephone code
area_code	(+40) 250 or (+40) 350
iso_code	RO-VL
website	County Council
County Prefecture
blank1_name	GDP (nominal)
blank1_info	US$ 2.436 billion (2015)
blank2_name	GDP per capita
blank2_info	US$ 6,855 (2015)
::

| name = Vâlcea County | native_name = Județul Vâlcea | native_name_lang = ro | settlement_type = County |image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 300 | image_style = infobox | perrow = 1/2/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = Ramnicu Valcea.jpg | caption1 = Râmnicu Vâlcea | image2 = RO VL Cozia All Saints chapel.jpg | caption2 = Cozia Monastery | image3 = Pavilionul Central Călimănești.jpg | caption3 = Călimănești | image_flag = Valcea flag.webp | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = [[File:Stema Valcea.svg|65px]] | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Valcea in Romania.svg | map_alt = Administrative map of Romania with Vâlcea county highlighted | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Romania | subdivision_type1 = Development region | subdivision_name1 = Sud-Vest | subdivision_type2 = Historical region | subdivision_name2 = Muntenia, Oltenia | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Capital | seat = Râmnicu Vâlcea | government_footnotes = | leader_party = PSD | leader_title = President of the County Board | leader_name = | leader_title1 = Prefect | leader_name1 = Mihai Oprea | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 5,765 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note = | area_rank = 20th | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = |population_total = |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_note = | population_rank = 26th | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = Telephone code | area_code = (+40) 250 or (+40) 350 | iso_code = RO-VL | website = County Council County Prefecture | footnotes = | blank1_name = GDP (nominal) | blank1_info = US$ 2.436 billion (2015) | blank2_name = GDP per capita | blank2_info = US$ 6,855 (2015)

Vâlcea County (also spelt Vîlcea; ) is a county (județ) that lies in south-central Romania. Located in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt River), it is also part of the wider Wallachia region. Its capital city is Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Demographics

In 2011, it had a population of 355,320 and the population density was 61.63/km2.

• Romanians - over 98%
• Roma, others - 2%

::data[format=table]

Year	County population	1948	1956	1966	1977	1992	2002	2011	2021
341,590
362,356
368,779
414,241
436,298
413,247
355,320
341,861
::

Geography

This county has a total area of 5,765 km2.

The North side of the county is occupied by the mountains from the Southern Carpathians group: the Făgăraș Mountains in the east with heights over 2200 m, and the Lotru Mountains in the west with heights over 2000 m. They are separated by the Olt River valley — the most accessible passage between Transylvania and Muntenia. Along the Olt River valley there are smaller groups of mountains, the most spectacular being the .

Towards the South, the heights decrease, passing through the sub-carpathian hills to a high plain in the West side of the Wallachian Plain.

The main river is the Olt River crossing the county from North to South. Its main affluents are the Lotru River in the North and the Olteț River in the South.

Neighbours

• Argeș County in the East.
• Gorj County and Hunedoara County in the West.
• Sibiu County and Alba County in the North.
• Dolj County and Olt County in the South.

Economy

The predominant industries in the county are:

• Chemical industry.
• Food and beverage industry.
• Textile industry.
• Mechanical components industry.
• Construction materials.
• Wood and furniture industry.

In the West of the county coal and salt are extracted.

The area in the center of the county is well suited for fruit orchards, vineyards, and raising cattle. The South is better suited for growing cereals and vegetables.

Tourism

The main tourist destinations are:

• The Olt River valley:
  • The Călimănești-Căciulata resorts.
  • The Cozia Monastery.
  • The Turnu Monastery.
  • The Cozia Mountains.
  • Various small churches and fortifications.
• The Lotru River valley:
  • The town of Brezoi.
  • The Lotru Mountains.
  • The Voineasa resort.
  • The Vidra resort
  • The Obârșia Lotrului resort.
• The city of Râmnicu Vâlcea.
• The Băile Govora resort.
• The Băile Olănești resort.

Politics

The Vâlcea County Council, renewed at the 2024 Romanian local elections, consists of 32 councilors, with the following party composition:

::data[format=table]

	Party	Seats	Current County Council
	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	19
	National Liberal Party (PNL)	10
	Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)	3
::

Administrative divisions

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/TudorVladimirescuStrRV.JPG" caption="The Tudor Vladimirescu street in [[Râmnicu Vâlcea]] (early 2010)"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Dragasani_Wine_Museum.jpeg" caption="[[Drăgășani]] Wine Museum"] ::

Vâlcea County has two municipalities, nine towns and 78 communes as follows:

• Municipalities
  • Râmnicu Vâlcea - county seat town (); population: 93,151 (as of 2022)
  • Drăgășani
• Towns
  • Băbeni
  • Băile Govora
  • Băile Olănești
  • Bălcești
  • Berbești
  • Brezoi
  • Călimănești
  • Horezu
  • Ocnele Mari
• Communes
  • Alunu
  • Amărăști
  • Bărbătești
  • Berislăvești
  • Boișoara
  • Budești
  • Bujoreni
  • Bunești
  • Câineni
  • Cernișoara
  • Copăceni
  • Costești
  • Crețeni
  • Dăești
  • Dănicei
  • Diculești
  • Drăgoești
  • Fârtățești
  • Făurești
  • Frâncești
  • Galicea
  • Ghioroiu
  • Glăvile
  • Golești
  • Grădiștea
  • Gușoeni
  • Ionești
  • Lăcusteni
  • Lădești
  • Laloșu
  • Lăpușata
  • Livezi
  • Lungești
  • Măciuca
  • Mădulari
  • Malaia
  • Măldărești
  • Mateești
  • Mihăești
  • Milcoiu
  • Mitrofani
  • Muereasca
  • Nicolae Bălcescu
  • Olanu
  • Orlești
  • Oteșani
  • Păușești
  • Păușești-Măglași
  • Perișani
  • Pesceana
  • Pietrari
  • Popești
  • Prundeni
  • Racovița
  • Roești
  • Roșiile
  • Runcu
  • Sălătrucel
  • Scundu
  • Sinești
  • Șirineasa
  • Slătioara
  • Stănești
  • Ștefănești
  • Stoenești
  • Stoilești
  • Stroești
  • Șușani
  • Sutești
  • Tetoiu
  • Titești
  • Tomșani
  • Vaideeni
  • Valea Mare
  • Vlădești
  • Voicești
  • Voineasa
  • Zătreni

Historical county

| official_name = Județul Vâlcea | other_name = | settlement_type = County (Județ) | image_skyline = Judecatoria Ramnicu Valcea, fostul Palat Administrativ.jpg | image_caption = The building of the Vâlcea County court from the interwar period, now the Râmnicu Vâlcea court. | image_flag = | flag_link = | image_shield = Interbelic Valcea County CoA.png | shield_link = | image_map = Romania 1930 county Valcea.png | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Kingdom of Romania | subdivision_type2 = Historic region | subdivision_name2 = Oltenia | subdivision_type3 = Capital city (Reședință de județ) | subdivision_name3 = Râmnicu Vâlcea | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_party = | leader_title = Prefect | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = Established | established_date = | established_title2 = Ceased to exist | established_date2 = | area_total_km2 = 4081 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = 1930 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 246659 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | timezone = EET | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = EEST | utc_offset_DST = +3 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | footnotes = | website = Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of Greater Romania, in the northeast part of the historical region of Oltenia. Its capital was Râmnicu Vâlcea. The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Vâlcea County; however the territories situated to the east of the Olt River in the current county were not part of the historical county.

The county was bordered to the north by Sibiu County, to the east by the counties of Argeș and Olt, to the south by Romanați County, and to the west by the counties of Dolj and Gorj.

Administration

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/1938_map_of_interwar_county_Valcea.jpg" caption="Map of Vâlcea County as constituted in 1938."] ::

The county was in 1930 divided into five administrative districts (plăși):

1. Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
2. Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
3. Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
4. Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
5. Plasa Zătreni, headquartered at Zătreni

By 1938, there were six districts, four previous and two new ones resulting from the reorganisation of the southwest part of the county:

1. Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
2. Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
3. Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
4. Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
5. Plasa Bălcești, headquartered at Bălcești
6. Plasa Oltețu, headquartered at Oltețu

Population

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 246,713 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 97.4% Romanians, 1.6% Romanies, 0.2% Germans, 0.2% Hungarians, 0.2% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.0% Eastern Orthodox, 0.4% Roman Catholic, 0.2% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

Urban population

In 1930, the county's urban population was 31,909 inhabitants, comprising 94.8% Romanians, 1.3% Romanies, 1.0% Germans, 0.8% Jews, 0.7% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 96.4% Eastern Orthodox, 1.4% Roman Catholic, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Lutheran, 0.3% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.

References

References

1. The number used depends on the numbering system employed by the phone companies on the market.
2. National Institute of Statistics, ''[http://www.recensamant.ro/pagini/tabele/t40a.pdf "Populația după etnie"] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-08-16 '')
3. National Institute of Statistics, ''[http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap2.pdf]''
4. (2025-12-11). "Componența Consiliului Județean Vâlcea". Consiliul Județean Vâlcea.
5. Edu, Aspera Pro. "JUDEŢUL VÂLCEA".
6. "Judeţul Vâlcea în perioada 1920 - 1940".

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