Craiva

For the village in Alba County, see Cricău. For the acronym SIAD, see Self-Injury Awareness Day.

Craiva
Commune
Country	Romania
County	Arad County
Population  (2002)	3,118

Craiva (Hungarian: Bélkirálymező) is a commune in Arad County, Romania. The commune Craiva is situated in the contact zone of the Susag's high plateau with Mărăușului Hills and Codru-Moma Mountains, along the Sartiș River, having an administrative territory of 11,490 hectares. It is composed of ten villages: Chișlaca (Kislaka), Ciuntești (Csontaháza), Coroi (Bélkaroly), Craiva (situated at 85 km from Arad), Mărăuș (Bélnagymaros), Rogoz de Beliu (Bélrogoz), Stoinești (Bélkismaros), Susag (Pusztaszuszág), Șiad (Sajád) and Tălmaci (Bántolmács).

Population

According to the last census, the population of the commune counts 3118 inhabitants, out of which 89.4% are Romanians, 0.1% Hungarians, 8.3% Roma, 2% Ukrainians and 0.2% are of other or undeclared nationalities.

History

Craiva's first documentary record dates from 1344. Chişlaca, Coroi, Mărăuş, Stoineşti, Susag and Tălmaci were first mentioned in 1828, Ciunteşti in 1587, Rogoz de Beliu in 1552 and Şiad in 1344.

Economy

Although the economy of the commune is prevalent agricultural the secondary and tertiary economic sectors have also developed recently. Possessing a forest-land stretching over 4000 ha, the activities connected to lumbering and procession of timber are well represented in the local economy.

Tourism

The picturesque scenery of the Mărăușului Valley, the Gârbei Peak and the wooden church in Ciunteşti called "Buna Vestire" dating from 1725 and painted its interior in Byzantine style, the pictures being painted on canvas or lime and glued on the plank walls are the most important attractions of the commune.