Drochia (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdroki.ja]) is a city in the northern part of Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The city is located 174.4 km (108.4 mi) north of the national capital, Chișinău, and 67 km (42 mi) north-east of the Romanian city of Iaşi. The average elevation of Drochia is 226 meters. The population at the 2004 census was 16,606.

Drochia
Drochia
Flag of Drochia
Coat of arms of Drochia
Drochia is located in Moldova
Drochia
Drochia
Location in Moldova
Coordinates: 48°2′N 27°45′E / 48.033°N 27.750°E / 48.033; 27.750
CountryMoldova
DistrictDrochia District
Established1777
Government
 • MayorCereteu Nina (PN), since 2015
Elevation
741 ft (226 m)
Population
 • Total13,150
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
MD-52xx
Area code+373 252 xx x xx
ClimateDfb

The name of the city comes from a local type of bird, called dropie (English: great bustard).

History edit

Drochia is first mentioned by chroniclers in 1777. By 1830 it was a small settlement encompassing 25 families. A document dating from 1847 notes that a small grape-processing plant, the town's first industrial enterprise, had been built. Two mills situated on a local stream were built in 1875.

More intensive industrial development emerged after the railway first came through at the end of the 19th century. At the 1930 census, the locality (then a village) was known as Drochia-Gară (literally Drochia Station), and had a population of only 595. It was part of Plasa Bădiceni of the Soroca County.

Drochia received the status of a city in 1973.

Demographics edit

According to the 2014 census, the population of Drochia amounted to 13,150 inhabitants, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2004, when 16,606 inhabitants were registered. Of these, 6,083 were men and 7,067 were women.[2]

Ethnic composition of Drochia (2014)[3]

  Moldovans* (80.54%)
  Romanians (4.34%)
  Ukrainians (10.03%)
  Russians (4.35%)
  Others (0.75%)
Linguistic composition of Drochia (2014)[4]
  Moldovan* (65.27%)
  Romanian (15.63%)
  Russian (15.10%)
  Ukrainian (3.76%)
  Other (0.19%)

Footnotes:

* There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.

* Moldovan language is one of the two local names for the Romanian language in Moldova. In 2013, the Constitutional Court of Moldova interpreted that Article 13 of the constitution is superseded by the Declaration of Independence,[5] thus giving official status to the name Romanian.[6][7]

Ethnic composition (1930 Census)
Romanians 181
Ruthenians and Ukrainians 77
Russians 209
Jews 112
Poles 5
Armenians 7
Serbians, Croatians, Slovenes 1
others 3
Total 595
Linguistic composition (1930 Census)
Romanian 198
Russian 210
Yiddish 102
Ukrainian 80
Polish 4
other 1
Total 595
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1930 595—    
1959 6,638+1015.6%
1970 11,161+68.1%
1979 15,280+36.9%
1989 21,298+39.4%
2004 16,606−22.0%
201413,150−20.8%












Media edit

Mayors of Drochia edit

International relations edit

Twin towns – Sister cities edit

Drochia is twinned with:


Photo gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Results of Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova in 2014: "Characteristics – Population (population by communes, religion, citizenship)" (XLS). National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ "2014 Moldova Census of Population and Housing". National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. (in Romanian, Russian, and English)
  3. ^ "2014 Moldova Census of Population and Housing". National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. (in Romanian, Russian, and English)
  4. ^ "2014 Moldova Census of Population and Housing". National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. (in Romanian, Russian, and English)
  5. ^ "Hotărâre Nr. 36 din 05.12.2013 privind interpretarea articolului 13 alin. (1) din Constituție în corelație cu Preambulul Constituției și Declarația de Independență a Republicii Moldova (Sesizările nr. 8b/2013 și 41b/2013)" (in Romanian). Constitutional Court of Moldova. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2013. 124. ... Prin urmare, Curtea consideră că prevederea conținută în Declarația de Independență referitoare la limba română ca limbă de stat a Republicii Moldova prevalează asupra prevederii referitoare la limba moldovenească conținute în articolul 13 al Constituției. [124. ... Therefore, the Court considers that the provision contained in the Declaration of Independence regarding the Romanian language as the state language of the Republic of Moldova prevails over the provision regarding the Moldovan language contained in Article 13 of the Constitution.]
  6. ^ "Moldovan court rules official language is 'Romanian', replacing Soviet-flavored 'Moldovan'". Fox News. Associated Press. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Chisinau Recognizes Romanian As Official Language". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2014.

External links edit