Ocna Mureș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌokna ˈmureʃ]; Latin: Salinae, Hungarian: Marosújvár, German: Miereschhall) is a town in Alba County, Romania, located in the north-eastern corner of the county, near the Mureș River.

Ocna Mureș
Coat of arms of Ocna Mureș
Location in Alba County
Location in Alba County
Ocna Mureș is located in Romania
Ocna Mureș
Ocna Mureș
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 46°23′24″N 23°51′36″E / 46.39500°N 23.86000°E / 46.39500; 23.86000
CountryRomania
CountyAlba
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Silviu Vințeler[1] (PNL)
Area
68.34 km2 (26.39 sq mi)
Elevation
208 m (682 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
12,480
 • Density180/km2 (470/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC 2/ 3)
Postal code
515700
Area code( 40) 02 58
Vehicle reg.AB
Websitewww.primariaocnamures.ro

The town administers five villages: Cisteiu de Mureș (Magyarcsesztve), Micoșlaca (Miklóslaka), Războieni-Cetate (Székelyföldvár), Uioara de Jos (until 1960 Ciunga; Csongva), and Uioara de Sus (Felsőmarosújvár). Its former name is Uioara, and was called Ocna Mureșului from 1925 to 1956.

History

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The town is situated next to a large deposit of salt, mined in the past until the ceiling of the mines collapsed from water infiltration in 1978. Ocna Mureș has a chlorosodic products plant, a salt extraction plant, and a spa which uses the salty water from the former mines. The spa is again open to the public, due to new investments made by the city and county in a new building with spa, salty basins, medical treatments, and sports facilities.

The chemical plant in town was lastly purchased by an Indian company from a company based in Timișoara. Currently, the plant has ceased activity and the old buildings were demolished to make room for new enterprises.The majority of high school students attend either Liceul Teoretic Petru Maior or the 'Industrial Highschool,' where many are trained to later work in mechanics, electrical and IT. Exceptional students progress onto university studies, generally in nearby Cluj-Napoca or Alba Iulia, the county capital. The town’s salt mine was flooded in 1978 and the ground became unstable and collapsed. Now this area is filled with more than 4 large, salty and very deep ponds which are projected to become an big natural park. The center of the town and city hall are located at the base of a large hill, the 'Banța.'

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1956 10,701—    
1966 12,126 13.3%
1977 16,416 35.4%
1992 16,256−1.0%
2002 15,697−3.4%
2011 13,036−17.0%
2021 12,480−4.3%
Source: Census data

According to the census from 2011, the town had a total population of 13,036; of those, 83.46% were ethnic Romanians, 9.31% ethnic Hungarians, and 7% ethnic Romani.[3] At the 2021 census, Ocna Mureș had a population of 12,480, of which 80.03% were Romanians, 6.38% Romani, and 6.19% Hungarians.[4]

Natives

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Climate

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Ocna Mureș has a humid continental climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification).

Climate data for Ocna Mureș
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)
4.8
(40.6)
10.4
(50.7)
16.4
(61.5)
21
(70)
24.3
(75.7)
26.2
(79.2)
26.4
(79.5)
21.3
(70.3)
15.5
(59.9)
9.4
(48.9)
3.2
(37.8)
15.1
(59.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2
(28)
0.2
(32.4)
5
(41)
10.9
(51.6)
15.9
(60.6)
19.5
(67.1)
21.3
(70.3)
21.3
(70.3)
16.3
(61.3)
10.5
(50.9)
5
(41)
−0.4
(31.3)
10.3
(50.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3)
−3.7
(25.3)
−0.2
(31.6)
5.2
(41.4)
10.3
(50.5)
14
(57)
15.9
(60.6)
16.2
(61.2)
11.6
(52.9)
6.1
(43.0)
1.5
(34.7)
−3.3
(26.1)
5.7
(42.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35
(1.4)
33
(1.3)
47
(1.9)
70
(2.8)
94
(3.7)
112
(4.4)
108
(4.3)
94
(3.7)
73
(2.9)
55
(2.2)
41
(1.6)
43
(1.7)
805
(31.9)
Source: https://en.climate-data.org/europe/romania/alba/ocna-mures-15288/

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 6 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. ^ "Structura Etno-demografică a României". Edrc.ro. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (in Romanian). INSSE. 31 May 2023.