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Bârlad

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This article is about the city. For the river, see Bârlad River.
Bârlad
Municipality
Statue of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, downtown Bârlad
Statue of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, downtown Bârlad
Coat of arms of Bârlad
Coat of arms
Country Romania
CountyVaslui County
StatusMunicipality
Government
 • MayorConstantin Constantinescu (Social Democratic Party)
Area
 • Municipality
15 km2 (6 sq mi)
 • Metro
20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipality
55,837
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ClimateCfb
Websitewww.primariabarlad.ro

Bârlad (Romanian pronunciation: [bɨrˈlad] ⓘ) is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of Moldavia.

At Bârlad the railway from Iași diverges, one branch skirting the river Siret, the other skirting the Prut; both reunite at Galați. Along with a maze of narrow and winding streets, Bârlad features several notable modern buildings, including the hospital administered by the Saint Spiridion Foundation of Iași.

In the vicinity of the city there are traces of a Roman camp.

Etymology

Scholars continue to debate the origin of the city's name. The Hypatian Codex mentions a market town called Berlad, and some historians, influenced by a document Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu published in the 19th century, have tried to link this town and its inhabitants (variously considered Romanians, Russians or an amalgam) with the Moldavian Bârlad. Ioan Bogdan demonstrated that the Hasdeu document was false, thus invalidating the hypothesis. Like Siret and Suceava, the medieval town took its name from the adjacent river, but nothing more can be said for certain. Constantin Cihodaru linked the name, of possible Hungarian origin, to a Slavic word (berlo — "rod", "cottage" or birlo — "swamp"), to which was added the Hungarian suffix -d, also found, for example, in the names Cenad, Arad, Tușnad and Tășnad. Supporting this notion is the historic presence of a significant Hungarian community, with traditions recalling the fight against the Tatars in the mid-14th century.[2]

History

During World War II, Bârlad was captured on 24 August 1944 by Soviet troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the course of the Jassy–Kishinev Offensive.

Population

  • 1900: 24,484 (of which one-quarter were Jewish)
  • 1912: 25,288
  • 1930: 26,204
  • 1948: 24,035
  • 1956: 32,040
  • 1966: 41,060
  • 1977: 55,937
  • 1992: 77,518
  • 2002: 69,183
  • 2011: 55,837

Natives

Education

Gheorghe Roșca Codreanu National College

Bârlad features a total number of 43 school units, of which 23 kindergartens, 12 primary and secondary schools, 4 high schools, one vocational school, one music and arts school, an orphanage for preschool children and one for school children.

All these units are subordinated to the Romanians Ministry of Education.

The five high schools in Bârlad are Colegiul Național Gheorge Roșca Codreanu (Gheorghe Roșca Codreanu National College) - the only national college in Vaslui County; Liceul Teoretic Mihai Eminescu (Mihai Eminescu Theoretical High School); Grupul Școlar Industrial Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School); Liceul Tehnologic Petru Rareș and Liceul Pedagogic Ioan Popescu (Ioan Popescu Pedagogical High School).

Sport

"Rulmentul Bârlad" is the city's rugby team, currently playing in the first rugby league in Romania. One of the pioneers of rugby in Romania, the first team was created in 1956 under the name of "Constructorul", meaning "The Builder" in Romanian. "S.C. RULMENȚI S.A. Bârlad" was formed later on in 1962, competing in the first tier of the Romanian rugby division ever since. The team colours are white and blue. Notable performances are the winning of the 1986 and 1987 F.R.R cup (Federația Română de Rugby - The Romanian Rugby Cup).

"Fepa '74 Bârlad" was the city's football team, changing its name to "F.C. Bârlad" shortly after. Its best performance was the promotion in the second tier of the Romanian Football Championship in the mid-1980s.

  • City Hall
    City Hall
  • Vasile Pârvan Museum
    Vasile Pârvan Museum
  • St. Elijah Church
    St. Elijah Church
  • Palace of Justice
    Palace of Justice

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Population at 20 October 2011" (in Romanian). INSSE. January 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. ^ Laurenţiu Rădvan, Oraşele din Ţările Române în Evul Mediu, p.486-87. Editura Universităţii "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iaşi, 2012, ISBN 978-973-703-719-0
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