Csongrád-Csanád (Hungarian: Csongrád-Csanád vármegye [ˈt͡ʃoŋɡraːdˈt͡ʃɒnaːd]) is an administrative county (comitatus or vármegye) in southern Hungary, straddling the river Tisza, on the border with Serbia and Romania. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Bács-Kiskun County, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County and Békés. The administrative centre of Csongrád-Csanád county is Szeged. The county is also part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion.

History

On October 3, 2017, the Hungarian Parliament passed a resolution to rename Csongrád County to Csongrád-Csanád County, which took effect on June 4, 2020. The resolution was submitted by János Lázár, then-Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, who called the renaming symbolic as more than a dozen settlements in the area still share Csanád County's identity.

Geography

This county has a total area of 4,263 km2 (1,646 sq mi) – 4,58% of Hungary.

The area of Csongrád-Csanád County is flat. It has a high number of sunshine hours and excellent soil, which makes it the most important agricultural area of Hungary. Its most famous products are paprika from Szeged and onions from Makó, but grain, vegetables, and fruits are also significant. Half of the onions, paprika, and vegetables produced in Hungary are from Csongrád-Csanád. The county is also rich in oil and natural gas.

The highest point is Ásotthalom (125 m), the lowest is Gyálarét (78 m; lowest point of Hungary).

Neighbours

Demographics

After the end of the Ottoman occupation in 1715, the county was nearly uninhabited, with a population density of less than 5/km2. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the county was repopulated by ethnic Hungarians from the relatively overpopulated northern and western counties of the Kingdom of Hungary. According to the 2001 census, the county is home for 423,826 people (216,936 people live in urban counties) with a population density is 100/km2. It has a Hungarian majority.

In 2015, it had a population of 406,205 and the population density was 95/km2.

YearPop.±%
Historical population
YearPop.±%1870269,803—1880286,636+6.2%1890327,273+14.2%1900363,821+11.2%1910395,361+8.7%1920407,831+3.2%YearPop.±%1930426,374+4.5%1941434,749+2.0%1949429,083−1.3%1960434,046+1.2%1970445,220+2.6%1980456,300+2.5%YearPop.±%1990438,842−3.8%2001433,344−1.3%2011417,456−3.7%2022391,184−6.3%
1870269,803
1880286,636+6.2%
1890327,273+14.2%
1900363,821+11.2%
1910395,361+8.7%
1920407,831+3.2%
YearPop.±%
1930426,374+4.5%
1941434,749+2.0%
1949429,083−1.3%
1960434,046+1.2%
1970445,220+2.6%
1980456,300+2.5%
YearPop.±%
1990438,842−3.8%
2001433,344−1.3%
2011417,456−3.7%
2022391,184−6.3%
Source: Censuses

Ethnicity

  1. Roman Catholic (47.8%)
  2. Greek Catholic (0.80%)
  3. Calvinistic (9.60%)
  4. Lutheran (1.30%)
  5. Other Christian denomination (4.60%)
  6. Other religion (0.70%)
  7. Not religious (35.2%)

Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Roma (approx. 5,000), Romanian (1,500), German (1,300) and Serb (1,300).

Total population (2011 census): 417,456 Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 367,193 persons:

  • Hungarians: 355,554 (96.83%)
  • Gypsies: 4,720 (1.29%)
  • Others and indefinable: 6,919 (1.88%)

Approximately 59,000 persons in Csongrád-Csanád County did not declare their ethnic group on the 2011 census.

Religion

Religious adherence in the county according to the 2011 census:

Regional structure

Districts of Csongrád-Csanád County
No.English and Hungarian namesArea (km2)Population (2011)Density (pop./km2)SeatNo. of municipalities
1Csongrád District Csongrádi járás339.2422,99668Csongrád (town)4
2Hódmezővásárhely District Hódmezővásárhelyi járás707.7756,56080Hódmezővásárhely4
3Kistelek District Kisteleki járás410.2018,18544Kistelek6
4Makó District Makói járás688.8545,13866Makó15
5Mórahalom District Mórahalmi járás561.7128,98652Mórahalom10
6Szeged District Szegedi járás741.10204,263276Szeged13
7Szentes District Szentesi járás813.8441,32851Szentes8
Csongrád-Csanád County4,262.71417,45698Szeged60

Transport

Road network

M5 motorway near Röszke.
Main road 45 near Szentes.

In 2012, Csongrád-Csanád County had a dense network of public roads, in total length of 1,350 km, of which 281 km were main roads. Inland, connections were provided by 1,049 km of county and communal roads and 20 km were covered with light road surfaces.

Highway network

Road network

Politics

County Assembly

The Csongrád-Csanád County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 20 counselors, with the following party composition:

PartySeatsCurrent County Assembly
Fidesz-KDNP10
Our Homeland Movement5
Democratic Coalition2
Momentum Movement2

Presidents of the County Assembly

PresidentTerminus
István Lehmann (MSZP)1990–1998
Dr. József Frank (Fidesz)1998–2006
Anna Magyar (Fidesz-KDNP)2006–2014
Béla Kakas (Fidesz-KDNP)2014–

Members of the National Assembly

The following members elected of the National Assembly during the 2022 parliamentary election:

ConstituencyMemberParty
Csongrád-Csanád County 1st constituencySándor SzabóMSZP
Csongrád-Csanád County 2nd constituencyBéla MihálffyFidesz–KDNP
Csongrád-Csanád County 3rd constituencySándor FarkasFidesz–KDNP
Csongrád-Csanád County 4th constituencyJános LázárFidesz–KDNP

Municipalities

Csongrád-Csanád County has 2 urban counties, 8 towns, 7 large villages and 43 villages.

As a typical Great Plain county, Csongrád-Csanád has a relatively small number of municipalities. 72.5% of the population lives in cities/towns, so it is one of the most urbanized county in Hungary.

Cities with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)

Towns

Villages

municipalities are large villages.

Gallery

External links

  • in Hungarian

46°25′N 20°15′E/46.417°N 20.250°E/ 46.417; 20.250