Berbești is a town located in Vâlcea County, Romania, about 78 km (48 mi) south-west from the county seat, Râmnicu Vâlcea, in the historical region of Oltenia. It was granted town status by law in October 2003.[3] As of the 2021 census, it has a population of 4,231.

Berbești
The Berbești train station
The Berbești train station
Coat of arms of Berbești
Location in Vâlcea County
Location in Vâlcea County
Berbești is located in Romania
Berbești
Berbești
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 44°59′17″N 23°52′6″E / 44.98806°N 23.86833°E / 44.98806; 23.86833
CountryRomania
CountyVâlcea
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Milorad-Ion Cumpănășoiu[1] (PNL)
Area
54.34 km2 (20.98 sq mi)
Elevation
350 m (1,150 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
4,231
 • Density78/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
247030
Area code(+40) 0250
Vehicle reg.VL
Websiteprimaria-berbesti.ro

The town administers five villages: Dămțeni, Dealu Aluniș, Roșioara, Târgu Gângulești, and Valea Mare.

Geography and climate

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Set on the lower course of the river Tărâia, a tributary of the Olteț, Berbești is crossed by the 45th parallel north.

Berbești is bordered by Mateești commune to the north, Sinești commune to the south, Alunu to the west and Copăceni to the east.

Economy

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The main economic activity is coal mining that began in the 1970s. Following the economic reforms in the late 1990s, Berbești saw an economic downturn similar to most of the mono-industrial towns in Romania.[4][5]

Natives

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
2002 5,704—    
2011 4,591−19.5%
2021 4,231−7.8%
Source: Census data

Notes

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  1. ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  3. ^ "Law no 410/2003" (PDF) (in Romanian). Law no 410/2003. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  4. ^ "Berbeşti, the ghost town" (in Romanian). www.voceavalcii.ro, published January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on July 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  5. ^ "Berbeşti, anti-orasul" (in Romanian). www.jurnalul.ro, www.hotnews.ro, published April 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-12.