Bucharest

I

Introduction

Bucharest (Romanian Bucureşti), capital and largest city of Romania, located in the southeastern part of the country. The city is situated about 65 km (about 40 mi) north of the Danube River, near Ploieşti, on the banks of the Dîmboviţa River (a tributary of the Danube). Bucharest lies on a generally level plain and, including suburban districts, occupies an area of about 300 sq km (about 117 sq mi).

II

Population

In 1930 the population of Bucharest was 631,288. By the 1950s, as a result of industrialization and urbanization policies, the population doubled, and it has continued to increase steadily. The population was 1,926,334 in 2002.

The rise in population caused severe housing shortages, and by the mid-1990s housing was still in short supply. Romania's lack of financial resources has prohibited the construction of new apartment buildings; many structures begun before the 1990s are still unfinished.

III

Economy

Bucharest is a major industrial center and the main financial and trade center of Romania. The city accounts for about 20 percent of the country's industrial production. Industries include heavy machinery, aviation, precision machinery, agricultural tools, furniture, electronics, chemicals, textiles, leather goods, wire, soap, cosmetics, and food processing.

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IV

The Urban Landscape

The city is divided into two sections by the Dîmboviţa River and is crossed by two wide boulevards. Bucharest contains six administrative districts; the adjacent rural area forms a seventh district. Most industrial areas are located in the suburbs, while the city is primarily residential. Bucharest, known as the “Paris of the Balkans” in the early 20th century, was a cosmopolitan city before 1944 when its architecture, city planning, and culture were French-inspired. After a Communist government came to power following World War II (1939-1945), French cultural qualities were ended, although the architecture remains. During the 1980s, under the orders of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, a vast area on the banks of the Dîmboviţa was razed, including houses and historical monuments. Buildings of North Korean architectural style were then erected, although many of these structures are still unfinished.

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