Sighetu Marmatiei

Sighetu Marmatiei

Sighetu Marmatiei (in Hungarian M�ramarossziget, in Ruthenian Sihota) is a city in Maramures County of Romania (in the Tisa Valley in Transylvania). The city has 44,185 inhabitants (14.8% Hungarian, 3.3% Ruthenian; 1992 census). Neighboring communities are: Sarasau, Sapanta, Ocna Sugatag, Giulesti, Vadu Izei, Rona de Jos and Bocicoiu Mare communities in Romania, Bila Cerkva community and Solotvino "town type community" in Ukraine (Transcarpathia).

History

The city has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. There is a very important rout in the Tisza Valley. The first mention of the settlement is from the 11th century. King Ladislas IV of Hungary settled Romanians in this territory between 1272 and 1290. The Dragos family in Maramures was the founder of the Principality of Moldova. In 1352 the city was a ree Royal Town, capital of M�ramaros County. From 1556 - like the Castle of Huszt - the settlement became the town of the Prince of Transylvania. From 1570 - 1733 the town and the county was the part of the Principality of Transylvania. In 1733 King Charles III reallocated it and M�ramaros County to Hungary from Transylvania. M�ramarossziget was one of the Romanian and Ruthenian cultural and political centers in Hungary. In 1910 the settlement was a town in the M�ramaros County of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Ethnic groups In 1910: Hungarian 82.1%, Romanian 9.4%, German 2.5%, Ruthenian 2.5%, Other 0.2%

Religions In 1910: Jewish 37.3%, Greek Catholic 27.4%, Roman Catholic 22.9%, Calvinist 10.9%, Other 1.7%

From 1919/1920 (Romanian occupation/Treaty of Trianon) to 1940 (Second Decision in Vienna) Sighetu Marmatiei was part of the Kingdom of Romania. In 1940 - 1944 it was part of Hungary. The Treaty of Paris reallocated it to Romania after World War II. The settlement was a town 1952 - 1960 in Baia Mare Region, a city 1960 - 1968 in Maramures Region and from 1968 in Maramures County.