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Bihar (county)
Encyclopedia
- For the current counties, see Bihor CountyBihor CountyBihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
and Hajdú-BiharHajdú-BiharHajdú-Bihar is an administrative county in eastern Hungary, on the border with Romania. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Békés. The capital of Hajdú-Bihar county is Debrecen...
County, For the Indian State, see BiharBiharBihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
.
Bihar is the name of a historic administrative county (comitatus
Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary)
A county is the name of a type of administrative units in the Kingdom of Hungary and in Hungary from the 10th century until the present day....
) of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. Its territory is presently mostly in northwestern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where it is administered as Bihor County
Bihor County
Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
, and a smaller part in eastern Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The capital of the county was Nagyvárad
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
; the city now lies in Romania under the Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
name of Oradea.
Etymology and History
The name of Bihar county is shared with BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, a historical state in India.
Geography
Bihar county shared borders with the Hungarian counties BékésBékés (former county)
Békés is a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory, which was smaller than that of present Békés county, is presently in southeastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Gyula.-Geography:...
, Hajdú
Hajdú (county)
Hajdú, formerly known as Hajdúság, is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary in present-day eastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Debrecen...
, Szabolcs
Szabolcs (county)
Szabolcs is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary in present-day northeastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Nyíregyháza.-Geography:...
, Szatmár
Szatmár
Szatmár is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and north-eastern Hungary, south of the river Tisza...
, Szilágy
Szilágy
Szilágy is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania. The capital of the county was Zilah .-Geography:...
, Kolozs
Kolozs
Kolozs is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania...
, Torda-Aranyos
Torda-Aranyos
Torda-Aranyos is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in central Romania . The capital of the county was Turda .-Geography:...
and Arad
Arad (Hungarian county)
Arad is a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in western Romania and south-eastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Arad.- Geography :...
. Three tributaries of the river Criş
Körös River
Körös is the name of a 195 km long river in eastern Hungary. It is formed at the confluence of the rivers Fehér-Körös and Fekete-Körös near Gyula. The Sebes-Körös flows into the Körös near Gyomaendrőd...
/Körös flow through the county (Crişul Repede
Crisul Repede
Crişul Repede is a river in Bihor county, Crişana, Romania and in southeastern Hungary . Together with the rivers Crişul Alb and Crişul Negru , it makes up the Three Criş rivers . These are considered the main rivers in the Crişana region of Romania...
, Crişul Negru
Crisul Negru
The Crișul Negru is a river in western Romania and south-eastern Hungary . The river starts at the junction of headwaters Crișul Poienii and Crişul Băiței in the western Apuseni Mountains. It flows through the towns Ștei and Beiuș in Romania. One its tributaries is the small Roșia River...
and Berettyó). The western half of the county is in the Pannonian plain, while the eastern half is part of the Apuseni mountains. Its area was 10,657 km² around 1910.
History
Bihar was one of the oldest counties of the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, formed before the 12th century. It was ruled by Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
as Varat
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
Province between 1660-1692.
In 1876 the Kingdom of Hungary was divided into seven Circles, with a total of 64 counties The Circle on the left bank of the Theiss
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
contained eight counties, including Bihar Megye (Megye means county), with the other seven being Békés
Békés (former county)
Békés is a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory, which was smaller than that of present Békés county, is presently in southeastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Gyula.-Geography:...
, Hajdú, Máramaros
Máramaros
Máramaros is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
, Szabolcs
Szabolcs (county)
Szabolcs is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary in present-day northeastern Hungary. The capital of the county was Nyíregyháza.-Geography:...
, Szatmár
Szatmár
Szatmár is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and north-eastern Hungary, south of the river Tisza...
, Szilágy
Szilágy
Szilágy is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania. The capital of the county was Zilah .-Geography:...
and Ugocsa
Ugocsa
Ugocsa is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
. Bihar county in the Austro-Hungarian Empire contained Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
and Nagyvárad.
In 1918/19 (confirmed by the Treaty of Trianon
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon was the peace agreement signed in 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allies of World War I and Hungary . The treaty greatly redefined and reduced Hungary's borders. From its borders before World War I, it lost 72% of its territory, which was reduced from to...
1920), about 75% of the county became part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The west of the county remained in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The capital of this smaller county Bihar was Berettyóújfalu
Berettyóújfalu
Berettyóújfalu is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It is named after the river Berettyó.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 16,107 people .-External links:*...
.
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World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Hungarian county Bihar was merged with Hajdú County to form Hajdú-Bihar
Hajdú-Bihar
Hajdú-Bihar is an administrative county in eastern Hungary, on the border with Romania. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Békés. The capital of Hajdú-Bihar county is Debrecen...
county. The southernmost part of Hungarian Bihar (the area around Sarkad
Sarkad
Sarkad may refer to:* Sarkad, Hungary, a town in Hungary* Sarkad·keresztúr* Sarkad·tanya, a village in Hungary...
and Okány
Okány
Okány is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 70.65 km² and has a population of 2993 people ....
) went to Békés County.
The Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n part of former Bihar County now forms the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Bihor County
Bihor County
Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
, except the southernmost part (around Beliu), which is in Arad County. This part was occupied by Hungary between 1940-1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Districts
In the early 20th century, the districts (járás) and their capitals were:| Districts (járás) | |
|---|---|
| District | Capital |
| Bél | Bél, RO Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... Beliu |
| Belényes | Belényes, RO Beiuş Beius Beiuș is a city in Bihor County, Romania near the Apuseni Mountains. The river Crișul Negru flows through Beiuș, and the city administers a single village, Delani.-Population:According to the 2002 Census, Beiuş has a population of 10,996 inhabitants.... |
| Berettyóújfalu | Berettyóújfalu Berettyóújfalu Berettyóújfalu is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It is named after the river Berettyó.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 16,107 people .-External links:*... |
| Biharkeresztes | Biharkeresztes Biharkeresztes Biharkeresztes is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 4227 people .... |
| Cséffa | Cséffa, RO Cefa Cefa Cefa is a commune in Bihor County, northwestern Romania with a population of 6,124 people. It is composed of three villages: Ateaş, Cefa and Inand. It also included five other villages until 2003, when they were split off to form Gepiu and Sânnicolau Român Communes.... |
| Derecske | Derecske Derecske Derecske is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 9297 people .... |
| Élesd | Élesd, RO Aleşd Alesd Aleşd is a town in Bihor County, western Romania. It is located in the east of the county, near the border with Cluj County.-Geography:Aleşd is located on the main railway line between Oradea and Bucharest... |
| Érmihályfalva | Érmihályfalva, RO Valea lui Mihai Valea lui Mihai Valea lui Mihai is a town in Romania.-Geography:It is located around 66 km north-east of Oradea, 9 km from the Hungarian border in Bihor County, western Transylvania, Romania.-History:... |
| Központ | Nagyvárad, RO Oradea Oradea Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:... |
| Magyarcséke | Magyarcséke, RO Ceica Ceica Ceica is a commune in Bihor County, northwestern Romania with a population of 3,975 people. It is composed of seven villages: Bucium, Ceica, Ceişoara, Corbeşti, Cotiglet, Duşeşti and Inceşti.... |
| Margitta | Margitta, RO Marghita Marghita Marghita is a city in Bihor County, Romania. It administers two villages, Cheţ and Ghenetea .-History:The name appears to be derived from the name "Margit" , Saint Margaret the patron of a local church. The first time it was used in a document was in 1216... |
| Nagyszalonta | Nagyszalonta, RO Salonta Salonta Salonta is a city in Bihor County, Transylvania, Romania, near the Hungarian border.-Population:According to the last Romanian census from 2002, the city has a population of 18,074, made up of Hungarians , Romanians , Roma , and others .In terms of religion, 51.12% are Reformed , 36.46% Romanian... |
| Sárrét | Biharnagybajom Biharnagybajom Biharnagybajom is a village in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It has a population of 3100 people and was built on a flood plain.... |
| Szalárd | Szalárd, RO Sălard Salard Sălard is a commune in Bihor County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Hodoş, Sălard and Sântimreu.... |
| Székelyhid | Székelyhid, RO Săcueni Sacueni Săcueni is a town in Romania. It administers five villages: Cadea, Ciocaia, Cubulcut, Olosig and Sânnicolau de Munte.-Geography:It is located around 42 km north-east of Oradea, in the proximity of the Hungarian border in Bihor County, western Transylvania, Romania.-History:The first written... |
| Tenke | Tenke, RO Tinca Tinca Tinca is a commune in the south-central part of Bihor County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Belfir, Gurbediu, Girişu Negru, Râpa and Tinca.-Tourism:It is known locally for its magnesium and calcium-rich mineral water springs.... |
| Vaskoh | Vaskoh, RO Vaşcău Vascau Vaşcău is a town in Bihor County, western Transylvania, Romania. It administers five villages: Câmp, Câmp-Moţi, Coleşti, Vărzarii de Jos and Vărzarii de Sus.-Population:According to the last census from 2002 there were 2,854 people living within the city.... |
| Urban counties (törvényhatósági jogú város) | |
| Nagyvárad, RO Oradea Oradea Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:... |
|
The towns of Derecske
Derecske
Derecske is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 9297 people ....
, Berettyóújfalu
Berettyóújfalu
Berettyóújfalu is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It is named after the river Berettyó.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 16,107 people .-External links:*...
, Biharnagybajom
Biharnagybajom
Biharnagybajom is a village in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It has a population of 3100 people and was built on a flood plain....
and Biharkeresztes
Biharkeresztes
Biharkeresztes is a town in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 4227 people ....
are presently in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, while the other towns mentioned are in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.