Crasna, Salaj
Encyclopedia
Crasna or Kraszna is a commune
in Sălaj County
, northwestern Romania
. It lies 14 km northwest of Zalău
and 11 km southeast of Şimleu Silvaniei
, on the Crasna River
. It has 6,373 inhabitants (2002). It is composed of four villages: Crasna, Huseni (Krasznahosszúaszó), Marin (Máron) and Ratin (Ráton).
word krasna, meaning "beautiful". The village was first mentioned in 1213, as Karasna. It had a castle which was still inhabited in the 17th century. It was the county seat of the historical Kraszna county of the Kingdom of Hungary
until 1876. Later it belonged to the Kraszna district of Szilágy
county until the Treaty of Trianon
, which gave it to Romania.
In 1910 it had 3884 residents, with a significant Hungarian majority (3790 people). In 2002, the commune had 6373 inhabitants: 63.8% Hungarians, 28% Romanians
and 8.1% Roma. 53.1% were Reformed
, 30% Romanian Orthodox, 9.4% Baptist
, 2.1% each Seventh-day Adventist
and Greek-Catholic
and 1.7% Roman Catholic.
Communes of Romania
A commune is the lowest level of administrative subdivision in Romania. There are 2686 communes in Romania. The commune is the rural subdivision of a county .There is no clear restriction on the population of a commune, even though when a commune...
in Sălaj County
Salaj County
Sălaj is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Crișana and Transylvania, with the capital city at Zalău.-Geography:Sălaj county has a total area of ....
, northwestern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It lies 14 km northwest of Zalău
Zalau
Zalău is the seat of Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania. In 2004, its estimated population was 62,900.- Ancient times :Zalău is situated in the area inhabited by "Free Dacians", 8 kilometers away from the historical landmark of Porolissum, a well-preserved Roman Castrum with an imposing fortress,...
and 11 km southeast of Şimleu Silvaniei
Simleu Silvaniei
Şimleu Silvaniei is a town in Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 16,066 people .Three villages are administered by the town: Bic , Cehei and Pusta .-History:...
, on the Crasna River
Crasna River (Tisza)
The Crasna or Kraszna is the name of a river in northwestern Romania and northeastern Hungary.The Crasna is a tributary of the Tisza River. Its source is in Transylvania, Romania, near the village of Crasna. It flows through the Romanian counties Sălaj and Satu Mare and the Hungarian county...
. It has 6,373 inhabitants (2002). It is composed of four villages: Crasna, Huseni (Krasznahosszúaszó), Marin (Máron) and Ratin (Ráton).
History
Its name originates from the SlavicSlavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
word krasna, meaning "beautiful". The village was first mentioned in 1213, as Karasna. It had a castle which was still inhabited in the 17th century. It was the county seat of the historical Kraszna county of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
until 1876. Later it belonged to the Kraszna district of Szilágy
Szilágy
Szilágy is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania. The capital of the county was Zilah .-Geography:...
county until the Treaty of Trianon
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon was the peace agreement signed in 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allies of World War I and Hungary . The treaty greatly redefined and reduced Hungary's borders. From its borders before World War I, it lost 72% of its territory, which was reduced from to...
, which gave it to Romania.
In 1910 it had 3884 residents, with a significant Hungarian majority (3790 people). In 2002, the commune had 6373 inhabitants: 63.8% Hungarians, 28% Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
and 8.1% Roma. 53.1% were Reformed
Reformed Church in Romania
The Reformed Church in Romania is the organization of the Calvinist church in Romania. The majority of its followers are of Hungarian ethnicity and Hungarian is the main church language...
, 30% Romanian Orthodox, 9.4% Baptist
Baptist Union of Romania
The Baptist Union of Romania is an alliance of Baptist churches for cooperative ministry in Romania. Since independent churches have no legal standing in Romania, the Baptist Union also provides a mediatorial relationship between churches and government.The first modern-era Baptists in Romania...
, 2.1% each Seventh-day Adventist
Romanian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The Romanian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is Romania's eighth-largest religious body. At the 2002 census, 97,041 Romanians declared themselves to be Seventh-Day Adventists; they have over 500 church buildings...
and Greek-Catholic
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
and 1.7% Roman Catholic.
Sights to see
- ReformedReformed Church in RomaniaThe Reformed Church in Romania is the organization of the Calvinist church in Romania. The majority of its followers are of Hungarian ethnicity and Hungarian is the main church language...
church, built in the late 14th century; with 4 spires and a painted sunken panel ceiling which was made in the 17th century.