Olt County (Romanian pronunciation: [olt]) is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the historical regionsofOltenia and Muntenia (the regions are separated by the Olt river). The capital city is Slatina.
Olt County
Județul Olt
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Coat of arms | |
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| Country | Romania |
| Development region | Sud-Vest |
| Historical region | Wallachia |
| Capital | Slatina |
| Government | |
| • President of the County Board | Marius Oprescu [ro] (PSD) |
| • Prefect | Stefan Nicolae [ro] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,498 km2 (2,123 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 22nd |
| Population
(2021-12-01)[1]
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| • Total | 383,280 |
| • Rank | 19th |
| • Density | 70/km2 (180/sq mi) |
| Telephone code | (+40) 249 or (+40) 349[2] |
| ISO 3166 code | RO-OT |
| GDP (nominal) | US$ 2.158 billion (2015) |
| GDP per capita | US$ 5,194 (2015) |
| Website | County Council Prefecture |
On 24 August 2017, the Olt County Council decided to hold a name referendum on 15 October 2017 for the proposal to change the county name to "Olt-Romanați".[3] The referendum was eventually held on 6 and 7 October 2018.[4] The vote was nullified, as turnout was 27.19%, below the required threshold of 30%; therefore, the Olt County retains its current name.[5]
In 2011, the county had a population of 415,530 and the population density was 75.57/km2 (195.7/sq mi).
| Year | County population[7] |
|---|---|
| 1948 | 442,442 
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| 1956 | 458,982 
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| 1966 | 476,513
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| 1977 | 518,804
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| 1992 | 520,966
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| 2002 | 489,274 
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| 2011 | 415,530
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| 2021 | 383,280
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The county is a mainly rural one, with over 60% of the population living in villages.
The county lies in a flat area on the western part of the Romanian Plain. It is crossed by rivers from north to south, including the Olt River which gave the county its name. The Danube forms a wide valley in the south, with many ponds and small channels, which are occasionally flooded.
The predominant industries in the county are:
Agriculture is the main occupation in the county - over 58% of the population having agriculture as their main occupation. Both extensive agriculture, and small-scale, vegetables and fruits, are practiced. The area is well suited for irrigation.
The main destinations for tourists are:
The Olt County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:[8]
| Party | Seats | Current County Council | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Liberal Party (PNL) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Olt County has 2 municipalities, 6 towns and 104 communes:
Județul Olt
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County (Județ)
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The Olt County Prefecture's building from the interwar period, currently the Olt County Museum.
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Coat of arms | |
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| Country |  Romania |
| Historic region | Muntenia |
| Capital city (Reședință de județ) | Slatina |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,863 km2 (1,105 sq mi) |
| Population
(1930)
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| • Total | 183,595 |
| • Density | 64/km2 (170/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Historically, the county was located in the southern part of Greater Romania, in the western part of the historical region of Muntenia, around and in the south of Bucharest. The county included the north-eastern part of the current Olt county, the south-western part of the present Argeș County and the north-western part of the present Teleorman County. During the interwar years, it was bordered to the north by Argeș County, to the east by the counties of Argeş and Teleorman, to the south by Teleorman County, and in the west by the counties of Romanați and Vâlcea.
The county originally was divided into three administrative districts (plăși):[9]
Subsequently, the county established an additional district:
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 183,595 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 98.2% Romanians, 1.2% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.5% Eastern Orthodox, 0.2% Roman Catholic, 0.1% Jewish, as well as other minorities.
In 1930, the county's urban population was 11,243 inhabitants, comprising 92.5% Romanians, 2.5% Hungarians, 1.5% Jews, 0.8% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 94.1% Eastern Orthodox, 2.3% Roman Catholic, 1.6% Jewish, 0.9% Reformed, 0.6% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.
44°26′00″N 24°22′00″E / 44.4333°N 24.3667°E / 44.4333; 24.3667
