Geographica Timisiensis, vol. 19, nr. 1, 2010 (pp. 6775) ●

THE NUMERIC EVOLUTION OF THE POPULATION IN THE DESNĂłUI PLAIN IN THE XX TH CENTURY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE XXI ST CENTURY

Elisabeta CIOCAN Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest

Abstract: Subunit of the Romanian Plain, DesnăŃui Plain is located in the southwest of the country. Mild, temperate climate, far from the excessive nuance that affects the eastern part of the Romanian Plain, relief with small altitudes, which descend in steps from north to south, respectively from 150 160 m to the contact with the Getic Plateau, to 3540 m close to the Danube Valley, characterized by monotony and homogeneity, and fertile soils and rich hydrographical network (the Danube Valley in the south, Drincea in the west, Jiu in the east, DesnăŃui in the center and their tributaries, the lakes of the Danube Valley) that favored the apparition and development of human settlements. Human Resources from rural area have known, during time, periods of positive or negative dynamics according to historical, political, administrative and economic conditions. Starting from the 1912 2006 longterm demographic evolution, there can be noticed a numeric increase of the population in DesnăŃui Plain until the year 1966, more accentuated between 1930 – 1956, followed by a numeric decrease, in the next period, until present time.

Rezumat : EvoluŃia numerică a populaŃiei în Câmpia DeznăŃui în secolul XX – începutul secolului XXI. Subunitate a Câmpiei Române, Câmpia DesnăŃuiului este situată în sudvestul Ńării. Clima blândă, temperată, îndepărtată de nuanŃa excesivă ce afectează partea estică a Câmpiei Române, relieful cu altitudini reduse, ce coboară în trepte de la nord la sud, respectiv de la 150160 m la contactul cu Podiul Getic, până la 3540 m în apropiere de lunca Dunării, caracterizat prin monotonie i omogenitate, precum i solurile fertile i reŃeaua hidrografică bogată (Valea Dunării în sud, Drincea în vest, Jiul în est, DesnăŃuiul în partea centrală i afluenŃii acestora, lacurile din Lunca Dunării) au favorizat apariŃia i dezvoltarea aezărilor umane. Resursele umane din spaŃiul rural au cunoscut dea lungul timpului perioade de dinamică pozitivă sau negativă în funcŃie de condiŃiile istorice, politice, administrative i economice. Pornind de la evoluŃia demografică pe termen lung 19122006, se constată o cretere numerică a populaŃiei din Câmpia DesnăŃuiului până în anul 1966, mai accentuată în perioada 1930 – 1956, urmată de o descretere numerică în perioada următoare până în prezent.

Key words : the numeric evolution, population, total growth rate, DesnăŃui Plain . Cuvinte cheie : evoluŃie numerică, populaŃie, rata totală de cretere, Câmpia DesnăŃuiului .

1. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Subunit of the Romanian Plain, DesnăŃui Plain is located in the southwest of the country. On the north side is limited by the Getic Piedmont (Platform of Strehaia, the subunit named Platform of BălăciŃa), on the south and southwest of the Danube Valley that 68 ● The numeric evolution of the population in the DeznăŃui plain constitutes the natural border with Bulgaria, on the east by Jiu Valley, which separates it from the RomanaŃi Plain (subunits of the Leu FieldRotunda and Dăbuleni Plain), and, west from the Drincea Valley that limits it from the Punghina Plain (subunit of BlahniŃa Plain). From the administrative point of view, the DesnăŃui Plain is located on the territory of Dolj and MehedinŃi Counties. It includes 97 villages, grouped in 48 Communes (Table no. 1), approximately 14% of the 693 villages of the two Counties (excluding the villages that belong to urban locations). 8 of which are situated in MehedinŃi County (Branite, GoanŃa, Dârvari, Gemeni, Obâria de Câmp, Izima, Cearângu, Oprior) and the others in .

Tab 1. The network of settlements in DesnăŃui Plain (2006) ReŃeaua de aezări din Câmpia DesnăŃuiului (2006) Crt. Commune Villages of DesnăŃui Plain Villages outside Total of no. DesnăŃui Plain villages No No. . 1 AfumaŃi 3 AfumaŃi, Boureni, Covei 3 2 Bârca 1 Bârca 1 3 BistreŃ 4 BistreŃ, BistreŃul Nou, 4 Brândua, Plosca 4 BucovăŃ 5 BucovăŃ, Cârligei, Leamna de 2 Sărbătoarea, 7 Sus, Leamna de Jos, Palilula, Italieni 5 Branitea* 2 Branitea, GoanŃa 2 6 1 Breasta 1 7 Calopăr 5 Calopăr, Belcinu, Bâzdâna, 5 Panaghia, SălcuŃa 8 1 Caraula 1 9 * 2 Catane, Catanele Noi 2 10 Cerăt 2 Cerăt, Malaica 2 11 Cetate 2 Cetate, Moreni 2 12 Cioroiai 3 Cioroiai, CetăŃuia, Cioroiu 3 Nou 13 Ciupercenii 2 , Smârdan 2 Noi 14 Desa 1 Desa 1 15 Dârvari ** 2 Dârvari, Gemeni 2 16 Drănic 4 Drănic, Booveni, Foior, Padea 4 17 Galicea 1 1 Mare 18 * 1 Galiciuica 1 19 Gângiova 2 Gângiova, Comoteni 2 20 * 1 Ghidici 1 21 3 Gighera, Nedeia, Zăval 3 22 1 Giubega 1 23 GiurgiŃa 3 GiurgiŃa, Curmătura, Filaret 3 24 2 Goicea, Cârna 2 25 Izvoare 2 Izvoare, Domnu Tudor 1 Corlate 3 26 Întorsura* 1 Întorsura 1 27 2 Lipovu, Lipovu de Sus 2 28 2 Maglavit, Hunia 2 29 Măceu de 2 Măceu de Jos, Săpata 2 Jos 30 Măceu de 1 Măceu de Sus 1 Elisabeta CIOCAN ● 69

Sus 31 MoŃăŃei 3 MoŃăŃei, Dobridor, MoŃăŃei 3 Gară 32 1 Negoi 1 33 Obâria de 2 Obâria de Câmp, Izima 2 Câmp ** 34 Oprior** 1 Oprior 1 Prisăceaua 2 35 Perior 2 Perior, Mărăcinele 2 36 Piscu 2 , PisculeŃ 2 Vechi 37 PleniŃa 2 PleniŃa, Castrele Traiane 2 38 3 Gura Văii, Livezi, Podari 2 Balta Verde, 5 Branite 39 Poiana 3 , Tunarii Noi, 3 Mare Tunarii Vechi 40 Punghina* 1 Cearângu 5 Drincea, 6 * Măgurele, Punghina, Recea, Satu Nou 41 Radovan 1 Radovan 2 Fântânele, 3 Târnava 42 Rast 1 Rast 1 43 Seaca de 2 Seaca de Câmp, Piscu Nou 2 Câmp 44 Silitea 1 Silitea Crucii 1 Crucii 45 ługlui 3 Glod, Jiul, ługlui 3 46 Unirea 1 Unirea 1 47 UrzicuŃa 2 UrzicuŃa, Urzica Mare 2 48 Valea 2 , Horezu 2 Stanciului Poenari Tota 97 13 110 l * Communes settled in 2004 by Law 84/2004 on administrative reorganization of the Romanian Territory. ** Communes that belong to MehedinŃi County

2. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Mild, temperate climate, far from the excessive nuance that affects the eastern part of the Romanian Plain, relief with small altitudes, which descend in steps from north to south, respectively from 150160 m to the contact with the Getic Plateau, to 3540 m close to the Danube Valley, characterized by monotony and homogeneity, and fertile soils and rich hydrographical network (the Danube Valley in the south, Drincea in the west, Jiu in the east, DesnăŃui in the center and their tributaries, the lakes of the Danube Valley) that favored the apparition and development of human settlements.

3. AGE AND CONTINUITY OF INHABITATION

Geographical location of the DesnăŃui Plain and the natural environment offered favorable living conditions since ancient times. Thus, archaeological discoveries from 70 ● The numeric evolution of the population in the DeznăŃui plain

Basarabi, Rast , and Caraula (Ion Andrieu, 1921) certify human presence on these territories since Neolithic Age . From the period of transition to Bronze Age is the Culture of CoŃofeni, which was signaled on the terraces of the rivers or on the Danube’s sand banks to BistreŃ, GolenŃi, Giubega and Galiciuica (D. Berciu, 1939). Settlements, belonging to the Gârla Mare Culture developed in the Bronze Age, were discovered at BistreŃ (Simona Lazăr, 1999), south from Ghidici town, in the point called ,, łarova I Pond’’ (Simona Lazăr, 2005) and at Dunăreni – Cârna, on the southern bank of the Nasta Pond (V. Dumitrescu, 1960). Since the Iron Age date the archaeological discoveries from BistreŃ, Galiciuica (D., Berciu, 1939), Basarabi, Hunia (V. Dumitrescu, 1944). GetoDacian settlements were identified in Calafat, Cetate, Ciuperceni, Desa, Dobridor, Galicea Mare, Galiciuica, Ghidici, Maglavit (Romanian History, vol. I, 2001). To the Camps of Traian and Twins there were built fortresses that had defensive role for the accesses towards Sarmizegetusa Regia (Petre Gheorghe, 2001). The settling in the DesnăŃui Plain continued during the Roman Period, fact attested also by archaeological discoveries from Covei in the II nd III rd centuries or, in the territory located between Calafat and Cetate in the I st century, which reflects the permanent relations with Roman population in Balcani, Calafat which were, even during that period, an important point of passage. At Bârca, Amărătii de Jos, Cerăt, Dobridor, Galicea Mare, MoŃăŃei, there were found monetary treasures from the II nd century our age.

4. METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF WORK

In order to highlight main aspects of numeric evolution in DesnăŃui Plain we used data collected in the field (municipalities of towns for the period 1966 – 2006) and from the Regional Direction of Statistic in Dolj (for censuses in the years: 1912, 1930, 1954) which we processed with the help of mathematical formulae and interpreted according to maps and graphics. A relevant indicator in the analysis of numeric evolution of the population is represented by the total rate of growth of the population , calculated according to plains and towns on different time intervals.

5. THE NUMERIC EVOLUTION OF THE POPULATION IN THE DESNĂłUI PLAIN DURING 1912 – 2006

Human Resources from rural area have known, during time, periods of positive or negative dynamics according to historical, political, administrative and economic conditions. Starting from the 19122006 longterm demographic evolution, there can be noticed a numeric increase of the population in DesnăŃui Plain until the year 1966, more accentuated between 1930 – 1956, followed by a numeric decrease, in the next period, until present time (Picture 1).

Elisabeta CIOCAN ● 71

EvoluŃia numerică a populaŃiei din Câmpia DesnăŃuiului (1912 2006)

300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 1912 1930 1956 1966 1977 1992 2002 2006

Total câmpie Rural Urban

Fig. 1. The Numeric Evolution of the Population in the DesnăŃui Plain during 1912 2006 (Inhabitants) EvoluŃia numerică a populaŃiei în Câmpia DesnăŃuiului în perioada 1912 – 2006 (locuitori)

For this interval the total rate of growth was of 31.4% for total population, 8.1% for the population in rural area and 514.5% for the population in urban area, which equals with an increase of over 5 times of the total number of the urban population in a time period of almost 94 years.

EvoluŃia numerică a populaŃiei rurale i urbane din Câmpia DesnăŃuiului (19122006)

100 90 80 70 60 50 95 91 40 84 90 84 78 79 78 30 20 10 0 1912 1930 1956 1966 1977 1992 2002 2006

rural % urban %

Fig. 2. The Numeric Evolution of Rural and Urban Population in the DesnăŃui Plain during 1912 – 2006 (%) EvoluŃia numerică a populaŃiei rurale i urbane din Câmpia DesnăŃuiului în perioada 1912 – 2006 (%)

The urban phenomenon shows, on the whole, an ascendant evolution, more accentuated within the interval 19121930 when it is registered a maximum rate of 286.6% as a result of the administrative reorganization, in the year 1912 being registered only one town in DesnăŃui Plain, the Town of Calafat, and, in the year 1930 three towns, Calafat, Băileti and PleniŃa. If in 1912 the urban population represented 5% of the total population, in the year 2006 it owned 22% (Picture 2). The oscillations registered in the numeric evolution of the population depending on areas, is due to several factors: the two military conflicts that led, in addition to the increase of mortality, to the stagnation of economic activities and the reduction of labor and attraction of towns, natural growth, migratory growth and urban state awarded to several localities. For the plain, the biggest growth was 72 ● The numeric evolution of the population in the DeznăŃui plain registered in the interval 1930–1956 when total growth rate was of 42.4%, and the smallest in the interval 1977–1992 when total growth rate had the value of – 10.7%. On areas, for rural area the biggest rate of 53.6% was registered in the interval 1930 – 1956, and the smallest of 16.6% in 19771992, the same as for the DesnăŃui Plain. In regard to the urban area, the maximum rate was of 286.6%, in the interval 10121930, and the minimum one of – 17.7% in the interval between the years 19301956. This indicator presents negative values starting with the year 1966 for the entire plain and for rural population. For urban population, there are three periods of time that are marked by negative values of the total growth rate of population: 19301956, 19922002, 2002 2006.

5.1. The Numeric Evolution of the Population in DesnăŃui Plain in the XX th century The numeric evolution of the population in the first half of the XX th century a) The numeric evolution in the interval 19121930 The numeric evolution of urban population in the DesnăŃui Plain within this interval is framed in the general growth tendency that has been registered in all the regions in the country. Total growth rate for the plain is of 13% during a period of 18 years, the population counting at the end of the interval 22396 more people, the numeric evolution being affected at the beginning of the interval also by the military conflict (First World War). On areas, the total growth rate of rural population is of 0.3%, and that of urban population is of 286.6%, at the end of the analyzed period there were 21811 more people living in towns than at the beginning of the analyzed interval. This growth is due, in the first place, to the passing of the localities PleniŃa, in the year 1925 and Băileti in the year 1926 in the rank of urban localities. Thus, if in 1912 there was registered only one town in the DesnăŃui Plain, the Town of Calafat with a population of 7608 inhabitants, in the year 1930 there were, in the DesnăŃui Plain three towns: Calafat (7633 inhabitants), PleniŃa (8617 inhabitants both with the suburb Castrele Traiane), Băileti (13169 inhabitants). If in 1912 urban population represented 5% of the total population, in the year 1930 it increased to 16% (Picture 4). b) The numeric evolution in the interval 19301956 At the census of 1956 in the Băileti Plain there were 267088 inhabitants, 79588 more people than at the census on the 29 th of December 1930. At the end of the analyzed interval, the rural population represented 91 % and the urban one 9%, being noticed an increase of the rural population and a decrease on the urban population comparatively to the period of time previously analyzed. If for the plain (42.4%) and communes (53.6%) the total growth rate was high, for the towns there was registered a minimum value (17.7%). This fact is due to the administrative reorganization, PleniŃa returning to rural status. If in the year 1930 there are registered three towns, in the year 1956 there are registered only two: Băileti, with a population of 16095 people and Calafat with 8096 people. On the numeric evolution of population during this period left the mark also historical factors (the Second World War) and political events of the immediate following years. The numeric evolution of the population in the second half of the XX th century a) The numeric evolution in the interval 19561966 Elisabeta CIOCAN ● 73

On 1 st of July 1966, in the DesnăŃui Plain there were registered 279291 inhabitants, 12203 more people than at the census of 1956, the total growth rate of population being of 4.5%, of rural population of 3.4%, and the urban one of 15.6%. If at the beginning of the analyzed interval the rural population owned 91%, by the end of the interval in represented 90%, it was registered a slow increase of urban population and a decrease of the rural one. Only two towns are registered in the DesnăŃui Plain during this period of time: Calafat and Băileti. The numeric increase of the population in the plain is due to the overcoming of famine years as a result of the relative politic and economic stability, birth recovery and reduced mortality, definitive migration towards other regions of the country, extension of the agricultural terrain and development of agriculture. b) The numeric evolution in the interval 19661977 Starting with the year 1966 when the population in the DesnăŃui Plain reached maximum value, there is registered a numeric decrease, in the year 1977 with 9890 less people. The total growth rate had negative values, of 3.5% in the plain, 7% in the rural population and 19.5% in the urban population. The positive value of the total rate in urban area is due to the increase of the number of towns, to the two existing ones (Calafat and Băileti) being added in the year 1968 , urban population counting at the end of the interval 16% of the total population, instead of 10% in the year 1966. Also, in the year 1968 some communes close to the towns were declared suburb communes, and their inhabitants were declared urban residents. Thus, the communes Basarabi and Ciupercenii Vechi would enter in the administrative sphere of the Town of Calafat, and the village Nădejdea, then Balasan, village that belonged to the commune Galicea Mare until the year 1965 became a locality that belonged to the Town of Băileti. At level of commune, most of the localities had a total growth rate of the population between 19%10%. Positive rates were registered in the communes Poiana Mare, ługlui and the towns Calafat and Băileti. Among the factors that marked the numeric evolution of the population in the DesnăŃui Plain there are: industrialization of towns, that drew labor from the surrounding rural areas, collectivization and mechanization of agriculture that led to freeing a part of labor from agriculture, this population going towards the towns capable to absorb the labor availability, pronatalist politics promoted by the government, registering a high natural growth, of 3‰ at level of plain, in the year 1966, with a birth rate of 12.7‰ and a mortality of 9.7‰ and with values between 0 and 13‰ for the majority of plain localities, there were registered negative values only by 7 communes (Caraula, Drănic, Gighera, Maglavit, Măceu de Sus, Perior, PleniŃa). The minimum is in commune Gighera 1.9‰, and the maximum in commune Lipovu 12‰. c) The numeric evolution in the interval 19771992 On 1 st of July 1992, in the DesnăŃui Plain there were registered 240341 inhabitants, decreasing with 29060 people in comparison to the year 1977 on an interval of 15 years. Total growth rate of the population that characterized this interval is negative for the population of the plain (10.7%) and rural population ( 16.6%) and positive (19.1%) for urban population. Thus, if in the rural area there is registered a slow demographic decline, for the towns there is seen a considerate numeric increase. If in the year 1977 the rural population represented 84%, in the year 1992 it owned only 78% of the population in the plain, while the urban owned 22% comparatively to16% in 1977. The increase of urban 74 ● The numeric evolution of the population in the DeznăŃui plain population is mainly due to the ruralurban migration as a result of forced industrialization in the communist period. To commune level, most of the localities had a total growth rate of the population with values between 19%10%. Positive values were registered by commune Desa and the towns Calafat, Băileti, Segarcea . The natural balance has a special importance in the numeric evolution. In the year 1977 negative values are registered only by the communes Gângiova, Izvoare, Măceu de Jos, Măceu de Sus, Maglavit, Seaca de Câmp, Silitea Crucii. The maximum characterizes the commune Breasta (13.5‰), and the minimum the commune Izvoare (3.1‰). To plain level, the natural balance is positive 4.7‰, with a birth rate of 16.9‰ and a mortality of 12.2‰. In the year 1992 only three localities in DesnăŃui Plain have positive values (Breasta, Cerăt, Calafat), the others registering a demographic deficit. The maximum characterizes the Town of Calafat (2.6‰), and the minimum commune Gighera (18.7‰). d) The numeric evolution in the interval 19922002 The period is characterized by the decrease of the number of inhabitants both in the plain and in the rural and urban areas, total growth rate being of 5.6% for DesnăŃui Plain, 5.1% for the rural area and 7.3% for urban area in an interval of 10 years. To commune level, most of the localities had a total growth rate of the population with values between 9%0%. Positive values were registered by communes Desa, Negoi, Piscu Vechi, Punghina, Podari, Breasta, Cerăt. On areas, there is noticed an slight increase of rural population, representing 79% of the total population in 2002 and a slow decrease of urban population, 21% comparatively to 22% in the year 1992. This phenomenon is due to the closure of industrial facilities which led to the increase of the number of the unemployed. The slim possibility of the towns to redistribute the labor, determines the change in the direction of the migration, much more people heading towards the rural areas, phenomenon encouraged also by the Law 18/1991 and Law 1/2000 on the reallotment of land to residents. Thus, in the last decade of the XX th century, the transformations that took place in politics, economy and social life led to changes in the demographic behavior of the population, the curve of its numeric dynamics being continuously descendent, determined both by the negative migratory growth and the natural one that also had negative values. To plain level, the natural growth was in the year 2002 of 9.5‰, with a birth rate of 9.9‰ and a mortality of 19.5‰. The only locality that registers a positive natural growth is Cerăt (1.6‰). The minimum is in the commune Măceu de Sus, with a natural growth of 29.7‰.

5.2. The numeric evolution of the population at the beginning of the XXI st century The numeric evolution in the interval 20022006 On 1 st of July 2006 the population DesnăŃui Plain counted 9777 less inhabitants than on 1 st July 2002, for an interval of 4 years, the total growth rate continuing to be negative both to plain level 4.3% and rural area 4.5% and urban 3.5%, describing a descendent demographic curve. To level of commune, most of the localities had a total growth rate of the population with values between 9%0%. Positive values were registered by the communes Breasta, Cerăt, Lipovu, Seaca de Câmp, Podari, Silitea Crucii . On areas, there is noticed a slight increase of urban population comparatively to the year 2002. Thus, the urban population owns 22% of the total population in the year 2006 comparatively to 21% in the year 2002. This ascendant tendency can be explained by decrease of birth rate, Elisabeta CIOCAN ● 75 consequence of legalization of abortion and use of birth control methods and also by the tendency of demographic aging of the population, especially in the rural area. The demographic increase of towns is not based anymore on the afflux of “immigrants” from the surrounding rural areas but a consequence of endogenous development. In the year 2004 after the administrative reorganization of the Romanian territory, new localities received the status of commune: Catane, Galiciuica, Ghidici, Întorsura, Branitea, with the villages Branitea and GoanŃa that belonged until this date to the commune Vânători.

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