Békés County is an administrative division (county

Counties of Hungary

Hungary is subdivided administratively into 20 regions which are the 19 counties and the capital city : Budapest...

 or megye) in south-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...

, on the border with 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...

. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Csongrád

Csongrád (county)

This article is about the county. For the town see Csongrád. For the historical comitatus see Csongrád .Csongrád is the name of an administrative county in southern Hungary, on the both sides of the river Tisza, on the border with Serbia and Romania. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties...

, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok

Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok

This article is about the modern county, for the historical one see Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok .Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok is the name of an administrative county in Hungary. It lies in central Hungary and shares borders with the Hungarian counties Pest, Heves, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar, Békés,...

 and 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...

. The capital of Békés county is Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba is a city in Southeast Hungary, the capital of the county Békés.- Geography :According to the 2001 census, the city has a total area of .- Name :...

. The county is also part of the Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisa euroregion.

Geography

Békés county lies on the Pannonian Plain (Great Plain), it is a flat area with good soil. Average rainfall is 645 mm/year. One-fifth of the natural gas resources of Hungary can be found in Békés. The river Körös/Criş runs through the county.

Demographics

The county has a population of 377,000 (2008). More than 60 % of the population lives in towns. Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Slovaks (approx. 7,000), Roma (5,000), Romanians (4,000), Germans (1,500) and Serbs (400).

History

The area has been inhabited since 5000-4000 BC. Before the arrival of the Hungarians several other tribes lived in the area.

The castle of Gyula was built in the early 15th century. Gyula was the most significant town of the county at that time, and became county seat under Matthias I

Matthias Corvinus of Hungary

Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...

. It was an important fortress during the Ottoman wars in Europe

Ottoman wars in Europe

The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older, European texts.- Rise :...

 but it was captured in 1566. During this time several towns were destroyed in the area.

In the early 18th century, after the Ottomans were expelled, the county was repopulated, not only with Hungarians, but with Slovaks

Slovaks

The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...

 (in the towns Békéscsaba, Endrőd, Szarvas, Tótkomlós), Serbs

Serbs

The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

 (Battonya), Germans

Germans

The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

 (Németgyula, Elek) and Romanians

Romanians

The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....

 (Kétegyháza). Most of the non-Magyar population was assimilated by the mid-19th century.

The agricultural importance of the county and the new railway line between Pest

Pest (city)

Pest is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two thirds of the city's territory. It is divided from Buda, the other part of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable parts are the Inner City, including the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square and...

 and Békéscsaba (finished in 1858) brought development, which was quickened when Hungary lost its southern territories to Romania after World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and Békéscsaba had to take over the role of the lost cities.

The population growth peaked in 1950 (472,000), in the same year when Békéscsaba became the county seat. During the following years the county was industrialized, like most of Hungary, and the population of the cities and towns grew.

Regional structure

The regional structure of Békés county is typical of the Great Plain: it has a small number of villages, but those are large, both by area and by population. There are several farmsteads too. 70% of the population lives in cities and towns, 17% in the county seat.

City with county rights

Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba is a city in Southeast Hungary, the capital of the county Békés.- Geography :According to the 2001 census, the city has a total area of .- Name :...

 (county seat)

Cities and towns

(ordered by population, according to the 2001 census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

)

• Gyula (32,967)
• Orosháza
  Orosháza
  Orosháza is a city situated in the westernmost part of Békés county, Hungary, on the Békés ridge bordered by the rivers Maros and Körös. Orosháza is an important cultural, educational and recreational centre of the region...
  
   (32,052)
• Békés
  Békés
  Békés is a town in Békés county, Hungary. It lies about north of Békéscsaba and east of Budapest.- History :The area of the present town has been inhabited since ancient times, due to its good soil and proximity to rivers. After Hungarians conquered the area, Békés and its surroundings were the...
  
   (21,657)
• Szarvas
  Szarvas
  ----Szarvas is a town in Békés county in southeastern Hungary. The Hungarian placename Szarvas means 'deer' in English.- History :...
  
   (18,563)
• Gyomaendrőd
  Gyomaendrod
  Gyomaendrőd is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary. It is located at around .-Geography:It covers an area of 303.98 km² and has a population of 15.523 people .-Famous people:*János Pásztor, sculptor...
  
   (15,523)
• Mezőberény
  Mezoberény
  Mezőberény is a town in Békés county, Hungary. It is located in the southern Great Alföld. In this town the road from Debrecen to Szeged crosses the railway line from Budapest to Bucharest.- Famous persons :* Soma Orlai Petrich painter...
  
   (11,551)
• Sarkad
  Sarkad, Hungary
  Sarkad is a town in Békés County, Hungary.-Location:* on the right bank of Fekete-Körös river* 14 km north of Gyula-Sister cities:...
  
   (10,959)
• Szeghalom
  Szeghalom
  Szeghalom is a town in Békés county, in southeastern Hungary. It is located at around .Szeghalom's football club is in the regional 1 league.It has a stadium with capicities over 500 people.-External links:*...
  
   (10,201)
• Dévaványa
  Dévaványa
  Dévaványa is a town in northern Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 216.73 km² and has a population of 8273 people ....
  
   (8,986)
• Vésztő
  Vészto
  Vésztő is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 125.76 km² and has a population of 7623 people . The town is situated in the Tisza plain.-History:...
  
   (7,656)

• Mezőkovácsháza
  Mezokovácsháza
  Mezőkovácsháza is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 62.59 km² and has a population of 6945 people .-Links:*...
  
   (7,026)
• Battonya
  Battonya
  Battonya is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 145.77 km² and has a population of 6747 people ....
  
   (6,747)
• Tótkomlós
  Tótkomlós
  Tótkomlós is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 125.4 km² and has a population of 6638 people .-People:* János Jankó...
  
   (6,638)
• Füzesgyarmat
  Füzesgyarmat
  Füzesgyarmat is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 127.41 km² and has a population of 6542 people ....
  
   (6,565)
• Mezőhegyes
  Mezohegyes
  Mezőhegyes is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary. It is home to the Hungarian State Stud , founded in 1784 and famous for its Nonius, Furioso-North Star and Gidran breeds of horse.-Geography:...
  
   (6,355)
• Csorvás
  Csorvás
  Csorvás is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.- Geography :It covers an area of 90.18 km² and has a population of 5738 people ....
  
   (5,765)
• Elek
  Elek
  Elek is a town in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 54.94 km² and has a population of 5567 people .-History:* first mentioned 1232...
  
   (5,583)
• Újkígyós
  Újkígyós
  Újkígyós is a large town in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 54.92 km² and has a population of 5723 people ....
  
   (5,537)
• Körösladány
  Körösladány
  Körösladány is a town in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.Béla Wenckheim, a Hungarian politician, who served as the Prime Minister of Hungary in 1875, was born here.-Geography:...
  
   (5,267)
• Medgyesegyháza
  Medgyesegyháza
  Medgyesegyháza is a town in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.- Geography :It covers an area of 64.32 km² and has a population of 3891 people .- See also :...
  
   (3,891)

Villages

• Almáskamarás
  Almáskamarás
  Almáskamarás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 14.76 km² and has a population of 989 people ....
  
  
• Békéssámson
  Békéssámson
  Békéssámson is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 71.25 km² and has a population of 2,627 people ....
  
  
• Békésszentandrás
  Békésszentandrás
  Békésszentandrás is a village in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:Békésszentandrás, the western gate of Békés county, lies along the left coast of the Hármas Körös river. The territory of the village is divided by the M44 road. The village is...
  
  
• Bélmegyer
  Bélmegyer
  Bélmegyer is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 63.05 km² and has a population of 1155 people ....
  
  
• Biharugra
  Biharugra
  Biharugra is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 52.87 km² and has a population of 1071 people ....
  
  
• Bucsa
  Bucsa, Hungary
  Bucsa is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 55.84 km² and has a population of 2533 people ....
  
  
• Csabacsüd
  Csabacsüd
  Csabacsüd is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 66.88km² and has a population of 2130 people ....
  
  
• Csabaszabadi
  Csabaszabadi
  Csabaszabadi is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 32.71km² and has a population of 380 people ....
  
  
• Csanádapáca
  Csanádapáca
  Csanádapáca is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 2914 people ....
  
  
• Csárdaszállás
  Csárdaszállás
  Csárdaszállás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 54.17 km² and has a population of 548 people ....
  
  
• Doboz
  Doboz
  Doboz is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 54.47 km² and has a population of 4563 people ....
  
  
• Dombegyház
  Dombegyház
  Dombegyház is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Detailed information :Further information and pictures about Dombegyház are available at the official page http://www.dombegyhaz.hu ....
  
  

• Dombiratos
  Dombiratos
  Dombiratos is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 18.31 km² and has a population of 757 people ....
  
  
• Ecsegfalva
  Ecsegfalva
  Ecsegfalva is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 78.99 km² and has a population of 1449 people ....
  
  
• Gádoros
  Gádoros
  Gádoros is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 38.13km² and has a population of 4095 people .Photos from the village: http://www.gadoros.hu/album/pages/legifelv_jpg.htm...
  
  
• Gerendás
  Gerendás
  Gerendás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 40.78km² and has a population of 1576 people ....
  
  
• Geszt
  Geszt
  Geszt is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.The name of the village appeared first in a written document in 1213.Kálmán Tisza, the Prime Minister of Hungary between 1875 and 1890, was born here.-Geography:...
  
  
• Hunya
  Hunya
  Hunya is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 32.59 km² and has a population of 798 people ....
  
  
• Kamut
  Kamut, Hungary
  Kamut is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 60.48 km² and has a population of 1164 people ....
  
  
• Kardos
  Kardos
  Kardos is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 42.79 km² and has a population of 795 people ....
  
  
• Kardoskút
  Kardoskút
  Kardoskút is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 76.58 km² and has a population of 998 people ....
  
  
• Kaszaper
  Kaszaper
  Kaszaper is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 33.28 km² and has a population of 2108 people ....
  
  
• Kertészsziget
  Kertészsziget
  Kérteszsziget is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 39.15 km² and has a population of 465 people ....
  
  

• Kétegyháza
  Kétegyháza
  Kétegyháza or Chitigaz , its name meaning in Hungarian Two Churches) is a large village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary...
  
  
• Kétsoprony
  Kétsoprony
  Kétsoprony is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 51.24 km² and has a population of 1594 people ....
  
  
• Kevernes
• Kisdombegyház
  Kisdombegyház
  Kisdombegyház is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 12.62 km² and has a population of 590 people .Homepage: kisdombegyhaz.hu...
  
  
• Kondoros
  Kondoros
  Kondoros is a large village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.- Geography :It covers an area of 81.84 km² and has a population of 5355 people .- External links :*...
  
  
• Körösnagyharsány
  Körösnagyharsány
  Körösnagyharsány is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.- Geography :It covers an area of 19.93 km² and has a population of 698 people .- History :...
  
  
• Köröstarcsa
  Köröstarcsa
  Köröstarcsa is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 62.83 km² and has a population of 2846 people ....
  
  
• Körösújfalu
  Körösújfalu
  Körösújfalu is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 25.31 km² and has a population of 718 people ....
  
  
• Kötegyán
  Kötegyán
  Kötegyán is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 42.97 km² and has a population of 1598 people ....
  
  
• Kunágota
  Kunágota
  Kunágota is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 63.99 km² and has a population of 3015 people ....
  
  
• Lökösháza
  Lokösháza
  Lőkösháza is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of southeast Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 2044 ....
  
  

• Magyarbánhegyes
  Magyarbánhegyes
  Magyarbánhegyes is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 36.56 km² and has a population of 2691 people ....
  
  
• Magyardombegyház
  Magyardombegyház
  Magyardombegyház is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 7.64 km² and has a population of 309 people ....
  
  
• Medgyesbodzás
  Medgyesbodzás
  Medgyesbodzás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 31.68km² and has a population of 1239 people ....
  
  
• Méhkerék
  Méhkerék
  Méhkerék , is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-History:The village was first mentioned in written sources in 1359. The origin of the village's name may be drawn from the original occupation of its inhabitants . The population fled the area after...
  
  
• Mezőgyán
  Mezogyán
  Mezőgyán is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 59.9 km² and has a population of 1921 people ....
  
  
• Murony
  Murony
  Murony is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 35.68 km² and has a population of 1478 people ....
  
  
• Nagybánhegyes
  Nagybánhegyes
  Nagybánhegyes |Bán]]-Hill") is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 42.26 km² and has a population of 1503 people .-Other information:...
  
  
• Nagykamarás
  Nagykamarás
  Nagykamarás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 43.07 km² and has a population of 1701 people ....
  
  
• Nagyszénás
  Nagyszénás
  Nagyszénás is a large village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 95.56 km² and has a population of 5739 people ....
  
  
• 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 ....
  
  

• Örménykút
  Örménykút
  Örménykút is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.- Geography :It covers an area of 54.56 km² and has a population of 549 people ....
  
  
• Pusztaföldvár
  Pusztaföldvár
  Pusztaföldvár is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 57.15 km² and has a population of 1928 people ....
  
  
• Pusztaottlaka
  Pusztaottlaka
  Pusztaottlaka , is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 18.88 km² and has a population of 471 people .-Population:...
  
  
• Sarkadkeresztúr
  Sarkadkeresztúr
  Sarkadkeresztúr is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 35.33 km² and has a population of 1877 people ....
  
  
• Szabadkígyós
  Szabadkígyós
  Szabadkígyós is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 45.56 km² and has a population of 3023 people ....
  
  
• Tarhos
  Tarhos
  Tarhos is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 57.45 km² and has a population of 1102 people ....
  
  
• Telekgerendás
  Telekgerendás
  Telekgerendás is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 72.37 km² and has a population of 1673 people ....
  
  
• Újszalonta
  Újszalonta
  Újszalonta is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of southeast Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 20.84 km² and has a population of 141 people ....
  
  
• Végegyháza
  Végegyháza
  Végegyháza is a village in Békés County, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 28.95 km² and has a population of 1606 people ....
  
  
• Zsadány
  Zsadány
  Zsadány is a village in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain region of south-east Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of 27.44km² and has a population of 1807 people ....