Nisporeni District

Nisporeni

District (Raion)

Flag

Coat of arms

Country

Administrative center
(Oraş-reşedinţă)

Government

• Raion President

Vasile Bîtcă (PDM) since 2011

Area

• Total

630 km² (240 sq mi)

• Water

15.8 km² (6.1 sq mi) 2.50%

Elevation

430 m (1,410 ft)

Population (2011)

• Total

66,600

• Density

105.7/km² (274/sq mi)

• Summer (DST)

Postal code

264

+373 64

Website

Nisporeni is a district (Moldovan: raion) in west-central Moldova, with its administrative center at Nisporeni. As of 1 January 2011^[update], its population was 66,800; most (97.2 percent) are Moldovans (Romanians).

The Vărzărești monastery was first mentioned on 25 April 1420. The oldest locations in the district (Bălăurești, Ciutești, Seliște, Nisporeni and Vărzărești) were first mentioned in 1420-1425. The 15th to 18th centuries were marked by economic (trade and agriculture) and cultural development (the construction of monasteries and churches) and population growth. The city of Nisporeni was first mentioned by Gaspar Graziani in his book dated 4 January 1618. According to Graziani, at that time Nisporeni was ruled by Farima Nicolae II, descendant of the Farima dynasty and cousin of Michael the Brave. Nicolae II is one of Moldova's national heroes. Local people were primarily involved in farming (grapes and other fruit) and hunting. In 1812, after the Russo-Turkish War (1806-1812), the Russian Empire occupied Basarabia; during the period 1812–1917, there was an intense russification of the native population. In 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia united with Romania; during this period (1918–1940, 1941–1944), Nisporeni District was part of Chisinau County. After the 1940 Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty, Basarabia was occupied by the USSR. In 1991, as a result of the independence of Moldova, Nisporeni District became part of Ungheni County (1991–2003); in 2003, it became a separate administrative unit.