Târgu Neamț (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌtɨrɡu ˈne̯amt͡s]; German: Niamtz, Hungarian: Németvásár, Hebrew: נאמץ טרגו, Latin: Ante Castrum Nempch) is a town in Neamț County, Western Moldavia, Romania, on the river Neamț. It had, as of 2021[update], a population of 18,029. Three villages are administered by the town: Blebea, Humulești, and Humuleștii Noi.
Târgu Neamț
| |
|---|---|
Neamț Citadel
| |
Coat of arms | |
Location in Neamț County
| |
  Târgu Neamț Location in Romania | |
| Coordinates: 47°12′9″N 26°21′31″E / 47.20250°N 26.35861°E / 47.20250; 26.35861 | |
| Country | Romania |
| County | Neamț |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2024) | Vasilică Harpa[1] (PSD) |
| Area | 47.31 km2 (18.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 365 m (1,198 ft) |
| Population
(2021-12-01)[2]
| 18,029 |
| • Density | 380/km2 (990/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3) |
| Postal code |
615200
|
| Area code | (+40) 02 33 |
| Vehicle reg. | NT |
| Website | www |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 9,095 | — |
| 1930 | 9,475 | +4.2% |
| 1948 | 8,948 | −5.6% |
| 1956 | 10,373 | +15.9% |
| 1966 | 12,877 | +24.1% |
| 1977 | 14,951 | +16.1% |
| 1992 | 22,282 | +49.0% |
| 2002 | 22,634 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 18,232 | −19.4% |
| 2021 | 18,029 | −1.1% |
| Source: Census data | ||
Originally a market town, hence its name (inRomanian "târg" = market), it had an important role in Moldavian culture. It was first mentioned in a late-14th century document.
The name neamț is a generic name of Slavic origin for the German people in the Romanian language. This has led to speculation of a German foundation of Târgu Neamț, according to which Saxon colonists crossed the Carpathians from the Bistrița area and built a commercial township. Some Romanian historians, including Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu consider that Târgu Neamț was probably a German settlement from the 13th century, when the Teutonic Order made incursions from Transylvania against the Cumanic peoples that were living in Moldavia.[citation needed]
Nowadays, historians disagree with this possibility mostly because of the long-lasting influences of the communist-nationalistic historiography which refused to accept the town was anything else than a Romanian-founded settlement.
The town is located at the crossing of two national roads: DN15B [ro] 
and DN15C [ro] 
. The planned East-West Motorway will bypass the town on its south when completed, providing access to Iași (to the east) and Târgu Mureș to the west. The railroad station is the terminus station of CFR Line 517 linking it to Pașcani via an electrified railway.
