{{Short description|County of Romania}}
{{Infobox settlement | name = Prahova County | native_name = Județul Prahova | native_name_lang = ro | settlement_type = County | image_skyline = {{multiple image | total_width = 290 | border = infobox | perrow = 1/3/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = Peleș-Castle (cropped).jpg | caption1 = Peleș Castle | image2 = Romania pt2 2018-35 (41370545875) (cropped).jpg | caption2 = Cross on Caraiman | image3 = Cantacuzino Castle Bușteni 16.jpg | caption3 = Cantacuzino Castle | image4 = Ploiesti-Catedrala-5.JPG | caption4 = Ploiești | image5 = Bucegi Mountains, Romania (cropped).jpg | caption5 = Bucegi Mountains }} | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = Prahova flag.png | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = 65px | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Prahova in Romania.svg | map_alt = Administrative map of Romania with Prahova county highlighted | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|45.1|26.02|type:adm1st_region:RO|display=inline,title}} | 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 | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Capital | seat = Ploiești | government_footnotes = | leader_party = PSD | leader_title = President of the County Board | leader_name = {{ill|Virgiliu Daniel Nanu|ro}} | leader_title1 = Prefect | leader_name1 = {{ill|Emil Drăgănescu|ro}} | unit_pref = Metric<!-- or US or UK --> | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 4,716 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note = | area_rank = 33rd | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = {{Romania metadata Wikidata|population_total}} | population_as_of = {{Romania metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}} | population_footnotes = {{Romania metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}} | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_note = | population_rank = 3rd | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = Telephone code | area_code = (+40) 244 or (+40) 344<ref>The number used depends on the numbering system employed by the phone companies on the market.</ref> | iso_code = RO-PH | website = [http://www.cjph.ro/ County Council]<br />[https://ph.prefectura.mai.gov.ro/ Prefecture] | footnotes = | blank1_name = GDP (nominal) | blank1_info = US$ 7.012 billion (''2015'') | blank2_name = GDP per capita | blank2_info = US$ 9,191 (''2015'') }}
'''Prahova County''' ({{IPA|ro|ˈprahova}}) is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploiești.
== Demographics == In 2011, it had a population of 762,886 and the population density was 161/km<sup>2</sup>. It is Romania's third most populated county (after the Municipality of Bucharest and Iași County),<ref name="INSSER">{{cite web | url = http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_3.xlsx | title = Population at 20 October 2011 | date = 5 July 2013 | access-date = 8 July 2013 | publisher = INSSE | language = ro}}</ref> having a population density double that of the country's mean.
* Romanians - 97.74%<ref>National Institute of Statistics, ''[http://www.recensamant.ro/pagini/tabele/t40a.pdf "Populația după etnie"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816034908/http://www.recensamant.ro/pagini/tabele/t40a.pdf |date=2009-08-16 }}''</ref> * Romas and others - 2.26%
{| class="wikitable" ! Year ! County population<ref>National Institute of Statistics, ''[http://www.insse.ro/rpl2002rezgen/18.pdf "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922081325/http://www.insse.ro/rpl2002rezgen/18.pdf |date=2006-09-22 }}''</ref> |- ! 1948 | 557,776 {{steady}} |- ! 1956 | 623,817 {{increase}} ({{PAGR|1956|623817|1948|557776}}) |- ! 1966 | 701,057 {{increase}} ({{PAGR|1966|701057|1956|623817}}) |- ! 1977 | 817,168 {{increase}} ({{PAGR|1977|817168|1966|701057}}) |- ! 1992 | 873,229 {{increase}} ({{PAGR|1992|873229|1977|817168}}) |- ! 2002 | 829,945 {{decrease}} ({{PAGR|2002|829945|1992|873229}}) |- ! 2011 | 762,886 {{decrease}} ({{PAGR|2011|762886|2002|829945}}) |- ! 2021 | 695,119 {{decrease}} ({{PAGR|2021|695119|2011|762886}}) |}
The county received an inflow of population who have moved here due to the industrial development.
==Geography== This county has a total area of 4,716 km<sup>2</sup>.
The relief is split in approximately equal parts between the mountains, the hills and the plain. In the North side there are mountains from the southern end of the Eastern Carpathians - the Curvature Carpathians group; and the Bucegi Mountains the Eastern end of the Southern Carpathians group. The two groups are separated by the Prahova River Valley.
The south side of the county is a plain, on the North West side of the Romanian Plain.
The main river is the eponymous Prahova River. It flows from the mountains, through the Prahova Valley collecting many other rivers - the Doftana River, the Teleajen River and others.
===Neighbours===
{{Romanian counties map}}
*Buzău County in the East. *Dâmbovița County in the West. *Brașov County in the North. *Ialomița County and Ilfov County in the South.
==Economy== The area contains the main oil reserves in Romania,{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} with a longstanding tradition in extracting and refining the oil. The county is heavily industrialised, with over 115,000 residents working in industrial environments. It contributes to over 8% of the country's industrial production.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Some of the biggest international corporations like Coca-Cola, Unilever, InBev, Johnson Controls, Cameron, Weatherford, Michelin, Timken and others have invested heavily in the recent years.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
The predominant industries in the county are: * Oil industry - almost 50% of the county's industrial production. * Oil extracting equipment. * Chemical industry. * Rubber industry. * Mechanical components industry. * Food and beverages industry. * Textile industry.
Agriculture is also developed — in the southern part mainly extensive agriculture and the hills area is well suited for wines and fruit orchards. In total it realises about 3% of the country's agricultural production.
==Tourism== The Prahova Valley is one of the areas with the highest tourist potential in the country having one of the best tourism facilities in Romania.
The main tourist destinations are: * On the Prahova Valley: ** The Sinaia Resort. ** The Bușteni Resort. ** The Azuga Resort. ** The Bucegi Mountains. * On the Teleajen River Valley: ** The Vălenii de Munte Resort. ** Cheia. ** Slănic. ** The Zăganul Mountains ** The Ciucaș Mountains. * On the Doftana River Valley: ** The Telega Resort. ** Valea Doftanei. ** The Gârbova Mountains. * The city of Ploiești. * The city of Câmpina.
== Politics ==
The Prahova County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:<ref>{{Cite web|language=ro|url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/data/json/sicpv/pv/pv_vs_final.json|format=Json|title=Rezultatele finale ale alegerilor locale din 2020|publisher=Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă|accessdate=2020-11-02}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" ! style="background:#ccc" | ! style="background:#ccc" | Party ! style="background:#ccc" | Seats ! style="background:#ccc" colspan="20" | Current County Council |- | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | PNL-USR PLUS Alliance | style="text-align: right" | '''20''' | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} |- | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | Alliance For Prahova (PSD) | style="text-align: right" | '''11''' | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} | | | | | | | | | |- | {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} | People's Movement Party (PMP) | style="text-align: right" | '''3''' | {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} | {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} | {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |- | {{party color cell|Independent}} | Prahova In Action Party | style="text-align: right" | '''2''' | {{party color cell|Independent}} | {{party color cell|Independent}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}
==Administrative divisions== Prahova County has 2 municipalities, 12 towns and 90 communes thumb|Ploiești Municipalities *Câmpina - population: 32,935 (as of 2011) *Ploiești - capital city; population: 209,945 (as of 2011)
Towns {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *Azuga *Băicoi *Boldești-Scăeni *Breaza *Bușteni *Comarnic *Mizil *Plopeni *Sinaia *Slănic *Urlați *Vălenii de Munte {{div col end}} Communes {{div col|colwidth=13em}} *Adunați *Albești-Paleologu *Aluniș *Apostolache *Ariceștii Rahtivani *Ariceștii Zeletin *Baba Ana *Balta Doamnei *Bălțești *Bănești *Bărcănești *Bătrâni *Berceni *Bertea *Blejoi *Boldești-Grădiștea *Brazi *Brebu *Bucov *Călugăreni *Cărbunești *Ceptura *Cerașu *Chiojdeanca *Ciorani *Cocorăștii Mislii *Cocorăștii Colț *Colceag *Cornu *Cosminele *Drăgănești *Drajna *Dumbrava *Dumbrăvești *Filipeștii de Pădure *Filipeștii de Târg *Fântânele *Florești *Fulga *Gherghița *Gorgota *Gornet *Gornet-Cricov *Gura Vadului *Gura Vitioarei *Iordăcheanu *Izvoarele *Jugureni *Lapoș *Lipănești *Măgurele *Măgureni *Măneciu *Mănești *Olari *Păcureți *Păulești *Plopu *Podenii Noi *Poiana Câmpina *Poienarii Burchii *Posești *Predeal-Sărari *Provița de Jos *Provița de Sus *Puchenii Mari *Râfov *Salcia *Sălciile *Scorțeni *Secăria *Sângeru *Șirna *Șoimari *Șotrile *Starchiojd *Ștefești *Surani *Talea *Tătaru *Teișani *Telega *Tinosu *Târgșoru Vechi *Tomșani *Vadu Săpat *Valea Călugărească *Valea Doftanei *Vărbilău *Vâlcănești {{div col end}}
==Historical county== {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Județul Prahova | other_name = | settlement_type = County (''Județ'') | image_skyline = RO PH Ploiesti Palace of Culture.jpg | image_caption = The building of the Prahova County court from the interwar period, now the Ploiești Palace of Culture. | image_flag = | flag_link = | image_shield = Interbelic Prahova County CoA.png | shield_link = | image_map = Romania 1930 county Prahova.png | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = 25px Romania | subdivision_type2 = Historic region | subdivision_name2 = Muntenia | subdivision_type3 = Capital city (''Reședință de județ'') | subdivision_name3 = Ploiești, then spelt ''Ploești'' | 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 = 5040 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = 1930 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 477750 | 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 south central part of Greater Romania, in the central part of the historical region of Muntenia. Its capital was Ploiești (then spelt ''Ploești''). The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Prahova County, except the town of Mizil and several nearby villages that were then in Buzău County. In addition to the current county's territory, the interwar county contained several communes in its western part (including Dărmănești, I.L. Caragiale, and Moreni), currently in Dâmbovița County, and some territory northwest of Predeal, now in Brașov County.
===Administration=== thumb|right|310px|Map of Prahova County as constituted in 1938. The county was originally divided into seven administrative districts (''plăși''):<ref name=Memoria>[http://romaniainterbelica.memoria.ro/judete/prahova/ Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Prahova]</ref>
#Plasa Câmpina, headquartered at Câmpina #Plasa Drăgănești, headquartered at Drăgănești #Plasa Filipești, headquartered at Filipești #Plasa Ploiești, headquartered at Ploești #Plasa Sinaia, headquartered at Sinaia #Plasa Urlați, headquartered at Urlați #Plasa Văleni, headquartered at Văleni
Subsequently, the county established three more districts:<ol start="8"> <li>Plasa Câmpu, headquartered at Câmpu</li> <li>Plasa Podgoria, headquartered at Podgoria</li> <li>Plasa Vărbilău, headquartered at Vărbilău</li> </ol>
=== Population === According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 477,750 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 95.0% Romanians, 1.5% Gypsies, 0.9% Jews, 0.8% Hungarians, 0.7% Germans, as well as other minorities.<ref name=Rec_1930_338>Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 338-339</ref> From the religious point of view, the population was 96.0% Eastern Orthodox, 1.2% Roman Catholic, 1.0% Jewish, 0.6% Lutherans, 0.5% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.<ref name=Rec_1930_690>Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 690</ref>
==== Urban population ==== In 1930, the county's urban population was 105,098 inhabitants, comprising 88.8% Romanians, 3.5% Jews, 1.9% Hungarians, 1.7% Germans, 1.4% Romanies, as well as other minorities.<ref name=Rec_1930_338/> From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 89.2% Eastern Orthodox, 3.6% Jewish, 3.3% Roman Catholic, 1.5% Lutheran, 1.3% Greek Catholic, 0.6% Reformed, as well as other minorities.<ref name=Rec_1930_690/>
==See also== *Prahova River *Prahova Valley
==References== {{Commons category|Prahova County}} {{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Prahova County}} {{Counties (judete) of Romania}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Prahova County Category:Counties of Romania Category:Geography of Wallachia Category:1879 establishments in Romania Category:1938 disestablishments in Romania Category:1940 establishments in Romania Category:1950 disestablishments in Romania Category:1968 establishments in Romania Category:States and territories established in 1879 Category:States and territories disestablished in 1938 Category:States and territories established in 1940 Category:States and territories disestablished in 1950 Category:States and territories established in 1968