Romania is divided into forty-one counties (judete), as well as the municipality of Bucharest (Bucuresti), which is its own administrative unit. Each county is administered by a county council (consiliu judetean), responsible for local affairs, as well as a prefect, who is appointed by the central government but cannot be a member of any political party. In alphabetical order, the counties are:

Alongside the county structure, Romania is also divided into eight development regions, which correspond to NUTS-II divisions in the European Union, but which have no administrative capacity and are instead used for co-ordinating regional development projects and statistical purposes. The country is further subdivided into 2686 communes, which are rural localities, and 265 towns. Communes and towns have their own local councils and are headed by a mayor (primar). Larger and more urbanised towns gain the status of municipality, which gives them greater administrative power over local affairs.

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Bistrita-Nasaud County

Bistrita-Nasaud is a county (judet) of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Bistrita.

Demographics
In 2002, it had a population of 382,747 and the population density was 61/km².

• Romanians - over 90%
• Hungarians - 6%
• Romani - 6.3%
• Germans - less than 1%

Year County population
1948 361,062
1956 370,800
1966 382,786
1977 409,634
1992 413,919
2002 382,747

Geography
This county has a total area of 6,242 km², with mountains occupying about 59% of its surface.

In the northwestern part there are the Apuseni Mountains, in the southern part there is the northeastern side of the Parâng Mountains group - Sureanu Mountains and Cândrel Mountains. In the east there is the Transylvanian Plateau with deep but wide valleys. The three main elements are separated by the Mures River valley.

The main rivers are the Mures River and its tributaries, the Târnava, the Sebes and the Aries.

Neighbours

• Bihor County to the West.
• Mures County and Bistrita-Nasaud County to the East.
• Salaj County and Maramures County to the North.
• Sibiu County and Mures county in the East.
• Bihor County and Arad County in the West.
• Cluj County in the North.
• Hunedoara County in the South-West

Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:

• Food industry.
• Textile industry.
• Wood industry.
• Mechanical components.
• Paper and packaging materials industry.
• Chemical industry.

The mineral resources exploited in Alba county are metals (gold, silver, copper), salt and construction materials: marble, granite, etc

Tourist attractions
The main tourist attractions in the county are:

• The city of Alba Iulia.
• The Apuseni Mountains.
  - Scarisoara Karst Complex.
  - Maidens' Fair on the Gaina Mountain.
  - "The Hill With Snails" west of Vidra.
  - Barren Detunata and Shaggy Detunata.
• The Câlnic Castle and the Castle of Gârbova.
• The Towns and Churches of Sebes and Aiud.
• The Ocna Mures Resort.
• The Tara Motilor ethnographical area. Situated in the Apuseni Mountains, Tara Motilor is a region with strong Romanian traditions.

People

• Lucian Blaga
• The Johann and MariaRegina Klein family, dating back to the mid 1200s.
  

Administrative divisions
The county has 4 municipalities, 7 towns and 65 communes. In parentheses, Hungarian names are given, unless otherwise stated.

Municipalities

• Alba Iulia
• Aiud
• Blaj (German: Blasendorf)
• Sebes

Towns

• Abrud
• Baia de Aries
• Câmpeni
• Cugir
• Ocna Mures
• Teius
• Zlatna

Villages

• Albac (Fehérvölgy)
• Almasu Mare (Nagyalmás)
• Arieseni (Lepus)
• Avram Iancu (Felsovidra)
• Berghin (Berve)
• Bistra (Bisztra)
• Blandiana (Maroskarna)
• Bucium (Bucsony)
• Câlnic, Alba (Kelnek)
• Cenade (Szászcsanád)
• Cergau (Magyarcserged)
• Ceru-Bacainti (Bokajfelfalu)
• Cetatea de Balta (Küküllovár)
• Ciugud (Maroscsüged)
• Ciuruleasa (Csurulyásza)
• Craciunelu de Jos (Alsókarácsonfalva)
• Cricau (Boroskrakkó)
• Daia Româna (Oláhdálya)
• Dostat (Hosszútelke)
• Farau (Magyarforró)
• Galda de Jos (Alsógáld)
• Gârbova (Szászorbó)
• Gârda de Sus (Felsogirda)
• Gura Ariesului (Vajdaszeg)
• Hopârta (Háporton)
• Horea (Arada)
• Ighiu (Magyarigen)
• Întregalde (Havasgáld)
• Jidvei (Zsidve)
• Klein Blasendorf (Ger. sp.)
• Livezile (Úrháza)
• Lopadea Noua (Magyarlapád)
• Lunca Muresului (Székelykocsárd)
• Lupsa (Nagylupsa)
• Metes (Metesd)
• Mihalt (Mihálcfalva)
• Miraslau (Miriszló)
• Mogos (Mogos)
• Noslac (Marosnagylak)
• Ocolis (Alsóaklos)
• Ohaba (Székásszabadja)
• Pianu (Felsopián)
• Poiana Vadului (Feketevölgy)
• Ponor (Nagyponor)
• Posaga (Podsága)
• Radesti (Tompaháza)
• Râmet (Remete)
• Rimetea (Torockó)
• Rosia de Secas (Székásveresegyháza)
• Rosia Montana (Verespatak)
• Salciua (Szolcsva)
• Salistea (Alsócsóra)
• Sâncel (Szancsal)
• Sântimbru (Marosszentimre)
• Sasciori (Szászcsór)
• Scarisoara (Aranyosfo)
• Sibot (Alkenyér)
• Sohodol (Aranyosszohodol)
• Sona (Szépmezo)
• Spring (Spring)
• Stremt (Diód)
• Sugag (Sugág)
• Unirea (Felvinc)
• Vadu Motilor (Aranyosvágás)
• Valea Lunga (Hosszúaszó)
• Vidra (Vidra)
• Vintu de Jos (Alvinc; German: Alwitz, Alwintz)