Voluntari

Voluntari
Town

Coat of arms
Voluntari

Location of Voluntari

Coordinates: 44°29′33″N 26°11′29″E / 44.49250°N 26.19139°ECoordinates: 44°29′33″N 26°11′29″E / 44.49250°N 26.19139°E
Country  Romania
County Ilfov County
Status Town
Government
  Mayor Florentin Costel Pandele (Social Democratic Party)
Population (2011)
  Total 42,944
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Website http://www.primaria-voluntari.ro/

Voluntari (Romanian pronunciation: [volunˈtarʲ]) is a town in Ilfov county, Romania. It is located at a distance of 1 km from the northern border of Bucharest (2 km from the National Road) and is thus frequently viewed as a suburb of Bucharest.

The population is 42,944 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, with an ethnic composition, among those for whom data are available, of 94.8% Romanians, 1.3% Romani, 0.9% Chinese, 0.5% Turks and 2.5% of other ethnic groups.

The low price of land, the proximity to the city of Bucharest and the easy and reliable access to both the railway network and the road network have allowed a steady development of industrial and commercial facilities, especially in the light industry and import/export commerce. The town's output estimate increased by over 25% between 2001 and 2005. Even with such high development rates, many residents remain unemployed or commute to Bucharest. Voluntari contains a shopping centre known as Jolie Ville Galleria, a Metro Cash and Carry hypermarket as well as the headquarters of Vodafone Romania.

Voluntari literally means "Volunteers", in Romanian, being founded by the volunteer soldiers who fought for Romania in World War I and were given plots to build their home there after the war. The settlement received its city status in 2004.

Local government

The Voluntari Local Council (Consiliul Local Voluntari) has 19 councillors. It is considered to be a very safe Social Democratic town, currently having the following party composition:

    Party Seats in 2008 Current Council
  Social Democratic Party 17                                  
  Democratic Liberal Party 2                                  

Transport

Voluntari has its own bus network, operated by the local council, consisting of three bus routes: 153, 155 and 167. Additionally, the city is connected to Bucharest by bus routes run by RATB, Bucharest's public transport operator.

Education

Voluntari is the site of the American International School of Bucharest, British School of Bucharest, Mark Twain International School,[1] and the Japanese School in Bucharest.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Voluntari.
  1. http://www.marktwainschool.ro/
  2. "ホーム." (Archive) Japanese School in Bucharest. Retrieved on 5 February 2014. "Str.Erou Iancu Nicolae, Nr.91E, Localitatea Voluntari, Judetul Ilfov, ROMANIA" - See map (Archive)