Soroca

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For the village in Glodeni District, see Iabloana.

Soroca
City
Soroca Fort and Soroca
Coat of arms of Soroca
Coat of arms
Soroca is located in Moldova
Soroca
Soroca
Coordinates: 48°10′N 28°18′E / 48.167°N 28.300°E / 48.167; 28.300Coordinates: 48°10′N 28°18′E / 48.167°N 28.300°E / 48.167; 28.300
Country Moldova
CountySoroca
Government
 • Mayor
Area
 • Total11.88 km2 (4.59 sq mi)
Elevation
45 m (148 ft)
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total22,196
 • Density1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
MD-3001
Area code(s)+373 230
WebsiteOfficial website

Soroca (Russian: Сороки, romanized: Soroki, Ukrainian: Сороки, romanized: Soroky, Polish: Soroki, Yiddish: סאָראָקע‎ Soroke) is a city and municipality[2] in Moldova, situated on the Dniester river about 160 km north of Chișinău. It is the administrative center of the Soroca District.

History[]

Zemstva of Soroca, 18th-19th century

The city has its origin in the medieval Genoese trade post of Olchionia, or Alchona.[citation needed] It is known for its well-preserved stronghold, established by the Moldavian prince Stephen the Great (Ştefan cel Mare in Romanian) in 1499.[3] The origins of the name Soroca are not fully known. Soroca (Russian: сорока) means Magpie in Russian language.[4] Its location is only a few kilometers from the Moldova-Ukrainian border.

The original wooden fort, which defended a ford over the Dniester, was an important link in the chain of fortifications which comprised four forts (e.g. Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, then known as Akkerman, and Khotyn) on the Dniester, two forts on the Danube and three forts on the north border of medieval Moldova. Between 1543 and 1546 under the rule of Peter IV Rareș, the fort was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five bastions situated at equal distances.

During the Great Turkish War, John III Sobieski's forces successfully defended the fort against the Ottomans. It was of vital military importance during the Pruth River Campaign of Peter the Great in 1711. The stronghold was sacked by the Russians in the Austro-Russian–Turkish War (1735–39). The Soroca Fort is an important attraction in Soroca, having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca in the present day.

The locality was greatly extended in the 19th century, during a period of relative prosperity. Soroca became a regional center featuring large squares, modernized streets, hospitals, grammar schools and conventionalized churches. In the Soviet period, the city became an important industrial center for northern Moldova.[5]

Soroca was known for producing grapes, wheat, maize, and tobacco in 1919.[3]

Climate[]

The climate in Soroca is a warm-summer subtype (Köppen: Dfb) of the humid continental climate.

hideClimate data for Soroca
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.7
(23.5) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		1.5
(34.7) 		9.2
(48.6) 		15.0
(59.0) 		18.1
(64.6) 		19.5
(67.1) 		18.9
(66.0) 		14.8
(58.6) 		9.0
(48.2) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		8.3
(46.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35
(1.4) 		36
(1.4) 		31
(1.2) 		49
(1.9) 		65
(2.6) 		93
(3.7) 		90
(3.5) 		58
(2.3) 		48
(1.9) 		31
(1.2) 		38
(1.5) 		39
(1.5) 		613
(24.1)
Source: Climate-Data.org[6]

Demographics[]

The population was estimated at 35,000 in 1919. It consisted mainly of Jews. Romanians, Germans and Russians also lived in the city.[3] The city once had a Jewish population of around 18,000 but they are only 100 today and 20 of them are considered Jewish according to the halakha.[7]

In 2012, Soroca had an estimated 37,500 inhabitants.

The city has a sizable Romani minority and is popularly known as the "Romani capital of Moldova."[8]

Mayor[]

The Mayor of Soroca is head of the executive branch of Soroca City Council.[9]

List of mayors of Soroca
Name From Until Party Pool
Mihail Popovschi[10] 2003 2007 PCRM 2003
Victor Său 2007 2011 PNL 2007
Elena Bodnarenco 2011 2015 PCRM 2011
Victor Său 2015 2019 PLDM 2015
Lilia Pilipețchi 2019 Present PSRM

Natives[]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1897 15,351—    
1919 35,000+128.0%
1930 14,661−58.1%
1959 14,895+1.6%
1970 24,465+64.2%
1979 31,831+30.1%
1989 42,297+32.9%
2004 28,362−32.9%
2012 37,500+32.2%
Source: [11][12]
See also: Category:People from Soroca and Category:People from Soroca District

Media[]

Gallery[]

International relations[]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Moldova

Twin towns – Sister cities[]

Soroca is twinned with:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Results of Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova in 2014: "Characteristics - Population (population by communes, religion, citizenship)" (XLS). National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ LEGE Nr. 248 din 03.11.2016 pentru modificarea și completarea Legii nr. 764-XV din 27 decembrie 2001 privind organizarea administrativ-teritorială a Republicii Moldova (in Romanian)
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Kaba, John (1919). Politico-economic Review of Basarabia. United States: American Relief Administration. pp. 13–14.
  4. ^ "СОРОКА - Translation in English - bab.la". en.bab.la. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Tourist towns of Moldova Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Climate in Soroca". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Moldovan Jews struggle to maintain their historic community amid poverty, anti-Semitism". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. ^ Steve Kokker, Cathryn Kemp (2004) "Romania and Moldova" (a travel guide), ISBN 1-74104-149-X p.322
  9. ^ "Loading". primsoroca.md.
  10. ^ "Ce se întâmplă la SOROCA ?".
  11. ^ "Demoscope Weekly - Annex. Statistical indicators reference". demoscope.ru.
  12. ^ "Moldova: Districts, Communes, Cities, Urban Settlements - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". citypopulation.de.
  13. ^ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, „Nici tu ploaie ca lumea, nici tu limpezirea apelor în domeniul politicii”
  14. ^ Reporter european Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading[]

External links[]

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