Motru

Motru
Municipality
View over the city from Motru Hills
Motru Location of Motru
Coordinates: 44°48′13″N 22°58′15″E / 44.80361°N 22.97083°E / 44.80361; 22.97083Coordinates: 44°48′13″N 22°58′15″E / 44.80361°N 22.97083°E / 44.80361; 22.97083
Country	Romania
County	Gorj County
Status	Municipality
Government
• Mayor	Gigel Jianu (National Liberal Party)
Area
• Total	50.09 km2 (19.34 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	18,142
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	215200
Website	http://www.primaruleunbou.ro/

Motru (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈmotru]) is a city in Romania, Gorj County.

Motru is situated on the river of the same in western Oltenia. The county capital Târgu Jiu is located about 35 km northeast. The city administers eight villages: Dealu Pomilor, Horăști, Însurăței, Leurda, Lupoița, Ploștina, Roșiuța and Râpa.

Motru was created by an administrative decision in 1966 on the territory of the former Ploștina commune, which, together with seven other villages, became part of the new city. The reason behind the decision to create a city was the development of several coal deposits.

The region is at least since the time of the Roman Empire, inhabited, in the district Leurda in 1964 found some silver coins from the time of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). The oldest documented settlement in the territory of present-day town Ploština (1385 is mentioned).

The Dacian town Amutria is mentioned in ancient sources like Ptolemy's Geographia (c. 150 AD) and Tabula Peutingeriana (2nd century AD), and potentially placed here. The name is homonymous with the ancient name of Motru river. After the Roman conquest of Dacia, Amutria was part of an important road network, between Drubetis and Pelendava.

In today's incorporated villages were partially free farmers, others were in the monastery Tismana submissive.

Motru was declared a municipiu in 2000.

Mining is the city's main industry; agriculture and livestock are also important, especially in its attached villages.