Drochia () is a city in the northern part of Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The city is located north of the national capital, Chișinău, and north-east of the Romanian city of Iași. The average elevation of Drochia is 226 meters. The population at the 2004 census was 16,606.

The name of the city comes from a local type of bird, called dropie (English: great bustard).

History

Drochia is first mentioned by chroniclers in 1777. By 1830 it was a small settlement encompassing 25 families. A document dating from 1847 notes that a small grape-processing plant, the town's first industrial enterprise, had been built. Two mills situated on a local stream were built in 1875.

More intensive industrial development emerged after the railway first came through at the end of the 19th century. At the 1930 census, the locality (then a village) was known as Drochia-Gară (literally Drochia Station), and had a population of only 595. It was part of Plasa Bădiceni of the Soroca County.

Drochia received the status of a city in 1973.

Demographics

According to the 2024 census, 12,939 inhabitants lived in Drochia, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 13,150 inhabitants were registered.

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Historical demographics

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{| class="wikitable" style="float:left

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|colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="#FFA500" | Ethnic composition (1930 Census)

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|align=left | Romanians || align=right | 181

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|align=left | Ruthenians and Ukrainians || align=right | 77

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|align=left | Russians || align=right | 209

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|align=left | Jews || align=right | 112

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|align=left | Poles || align=right | 5

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|align=left | Armenians || align=right | 7

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|align=left | Serbians, Croatians, Slovenes || align=right | 1

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|align=left | others || align=right | 3

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|align=left bgcolor="#98FB98" | Total || align=right bgcolor="#98FB98" | 595

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|}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right

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|colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#FFA500" | Linguistic composition (1930 Census)

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|align=left | Romanian || align=right | 198

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|align=left | Russian || align=right | 210

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|align=left | Yiddish || align=right | 102

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|align=left | Ukrainian || align=right | 80

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|align=left | Polish || align=right | 4

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|align=left | other || align=right | 1

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|align=left bgcolor="#98FB98" | Total || align=right bgcolor="#98FB98" | 595

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|}

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Media

thumb|Journalists interviewing [[Octavian Armașu during the inauguration of a biogas plant outside the city, 2012]]

  • Radio Chișinău 93.8 FM
  • Vocea Basarabiei 101,0
  • Radio Studentus www.studentus.md/listen.html

Mayors of Drochia

  • Anatol Pleșca 1991–1999
  • Valeriu Ceban 1999–2007
  • Grigore Melnic 2007 – 2011
  • Igor Grozavu 2011 – 2015
  • Nina Cereteu 2015 - 2023
  • Nina Cereteu 2023 - present

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Drochia is twinned with:

  • Borisov, Belarus
  • Dorohoi, Romania
  • Kolomyia, Ukraine
  • Rădăuți, Romania
  • Pineto, Italy

Notable people

  • Romeo V. Turcan, professor
  • Victor Pînzaru, athlete

<gallery class="center">

File:Catedrala Maicii Domnului - Wiki.JPG|Cathedral of the "Adormirea Maicii Domnului"

File:Stamp of Moldova md018std.jpg|Monument of Mihai Eminescu

File:Primaria orasului Drochia - Wiki.JPG|City Hall

File:Liceul Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu - Wiki.JPG|Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School

File:Statia Auto Drochia.JPG|Drochia Bus Terminal

File:Consiliu Raional Drochia si Bustul lui St.cel Mare.JPG|Drochia District Council and the monument of Stephen III of Moldavia

File:Cladire cu oficii in Orasul Drochia.JPG|Office building

File:Monumentul lui Mihai Eminescu in Orasul Drochia.JPG|Monument of Mihai Eminescu

</gallery>

References

  • Drochia Stadium on divizianationala.com
  • Weather in Drochia
  • Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School Webpage
  • Drochia in Photos
  • Meteo Moldova
  • Drochia.md