Salonta
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| Salonta Nagyszalonta |
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country |  Romania |
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| County | Bihor County | ||
| Status | Municipality | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | László Török (from the DUHR) | ||
| Population (2002) | |||
| - Total | 18,137 | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Website: http://www.salonta.net/en/fooldal.htm | |||
Salonta (Hungarian: Nagyszalonta, German: Großsalontha) is a city and municipality in Bihor county, Crişana, Romania
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[edit] Population
The city has a population of 18,137 (as of 2002), made up of Hungarians (57.3%), Romanians (40.1%), Roma (2.1%), Germans (0.4%), and other (0.1%). Almost a half of the population is Hungarian Reformed (Calvinist); the remaining half is split between Christian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal and other faiths.
[edit] History
The city was first documented in 1214 under the name of Zolonta and in 1332 a Papal document used the name Zalanta. From 1587 the Hungarian spelling Szalonta was used.
Until the 16th century, it was only a small village of about 300 inhabitants and was on the land of the Toldi family. A bigger city was the fort of Culiser, which was however destroyed by the Turks in 1598.
Culiser was never rebuilt and Salonta began to have a more important role in the region after 1606, when the prince of Transylvania, Stephan Bocskai settled 300 soldiers here and appropriated land for them. They built their own farms, but had to keep their arms ready to repel an attack by the Turks. 3 June, the day in which the soldiers were settled, is nowadays declared "the day of the city". However, Ottoman Turks captured the town in 1660 and as "Salanta", it became the sanjak center of Varat vilayet until 1692.
Renowned Hungarian 19th Century poet, János Arany, was born and lived in Salonta for most of his life. Lajos Zilahy, another noted Hungarian author, was also born in Salonta on 27 March 1891.
[edit] Trivia
The city of Salonta was the host for the 2006 Romanian National Gliders Championship (Campionat naţional de aeromodelism) and its team, Metalul Salonta, has won the championship several times.
[edit] Politics
The Salonta Municipal Council, elected in the 2004 local government elections, is made up of 17 councillors, with the following party composition:
| Party | Seats | Current Council | ||||||||||||
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| Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Justice and Truth Alliance | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Social Democratic Party | 1 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Sister cities
Csepel, Hungary- Hajdúböszörmény, Hungary
- Nagykõrös, Hungary
Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia- Sarkad, Hungary
- Túrkeve, Hungary
[edit] External links
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