Heves county (Hungarian: Heves vármegye, pronounced [ˈhɛvɛʃ]) lies in northern Hungary, between the right bank of the river Tisza and the Mátra and Bükk mountains. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Pest, Nógrád, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok. Eger is the county seat.

Tourist sights

Geography

Heves county is a geographically diverse area; its northern part is mountainous (the Mátra and Bükk are the two highest mountain ranges in Hungary), while at south it includes a part of the Great Hungarian Plain. From south it is bordered by Lake Tisza, the largest artificial lake in Hungary. The average temperature is between 8 and 10 °C (higher on the southern parts of the county).

Rivers

Highest point

Lowest point

History

The county was a primary target for the Ottoman Empire during the Ottoman-Hungarian Wars where the Siege of Eger took place.

Demographics

The population of Heves County was 285,892 as of the 2022 Census, with a population density of 79 individuals per square kilometer (79/km2). The number of households was 118,802 and the number of families was 77,333. Since the 2011 Census, the population decreased by 22,990 (-7.4%).

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1870205,146—
1880203,338−0.9%
1890227,156+11.7%
1900249,354+9.8%
1910275,181+10.4%
1920292,290+6.2%
1930312,085+6.8%
1941319,043+2.2%
1949316,273−0.9%
1960347,856+10.0%
1970340,146−2.2%
1980350,360+3.0%
1990334,408−4.6%
2001325,727−2.6%
2011308,882−5.2%
2022285,892−7.4%
Source:

Ethnicity

In the 2022 Census, the vast majority (85.9%) of the population identified as Hungarian. A minority of 5.9% identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 11.4% of the population did not respond. The ethnic groups most identified with were Romani (4.8%), German (0.2%), and Ukrainian (0.2%). Small numbers identified as Slovakian (344), Romanian (324), Ruthenian (112), or other domestic ethnic groups (365) or other groups (757).

In the 2011 Census, 83.4% of the population identified as Hungarian. Less than a tenth (7.1%) of the population identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 13.9% did not respond. Romani made up 6.3% of the population, German (0.2%), Slovakian (0.2%) and Romanian (0.1%). Small numbers identified as other domestic ethnic groups (534) or other groups (563).

Religion

  1. Roman Catholic (63.4%)
  2. Calvinistic (7.20%)
  3. Greek Catholic (0.80%)
  4. Lutheran (0.50%)
  5. Other Christian denomination (4.40%)
  6. Other religion (0.40%)
  7. Not religious (23.3%)

In the 2022 Census, just over half of the population (51.4%) were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (38.5%). Other communities included Calvinist (4.4%), Greek Catholic (0.5%), Lutheran (0.3%), Orthodox Christian (0.1%), Other Christian denomination (1.7%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers (less than 100) were affiliated with Judaism. The non-religious made up 14.1% of the population. More than a third (39.0%) of the population did not respond.

In the 2011 Census, 59.2% of the population were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (52.1%). Others included Calvinist (4.8%), Greek Catholic (0.4%), Lutheran (0.4%), Other Christian denomination (1.3%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers were affiliated with Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. Atheists made up (1.0%) of the population and other non-religious made up 14.0%. Just over a quarter (25.8%) of the population did not respond.

In 1930, the population was 91.6% Roman Catholic, 5.2% Calvinist, 2.4% Jewish, 0.5% Lutheran, and others (0.3%).

Regional structure

District of Heves County
Gyöngyös 1938
№English and Hungarian namesArea (km2)Population (2022)Density (pop./km2)Seat№ of municipalities
1Bélapátfalva District Bélapátfalvai járás180.897,81743Bélapátfalva8
2Eger District Egri járás602.0580,419134Eger22
3Füzesabony District Füzesabonyi járás578.5528,34549Füzesabony16
4Gyöngyös District Gyöngyösi járás750.7866,93189Gyöngyös25
5Hatvan District Hatvani járás352.1650,266143Hatvan13
6Heves District Hevesi járás697.6833,18948Heves (town)17
7Pétervására District Pétervásárai járás475.0718,92540Pétervására20
Heves County3,637.25285,89279Eger121

Politics

Countyhall of Heves

County Assembly

The Heves County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 15 counselors, with the following party composition:

PartySeatsCurrent County Assembly
Fidesz-KDNP9
Our Homeland Movement2
Democratic Coalition2
Momentum Movement1
Jobbik1

Presidents of the General Assembly

List of presidents since 1990
Róbert Szabó (Fidesz-KDNP)2014–

Members of the National Assembly

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

ConstituencyMemberParty
Heves County 1st constituencyGábor PajtókFidesz–KDNP
Heves County 2nd constituencyLászló HorváthFidesz–KDNP
Heves County 3rd constituencyZsolt SzabóFidesz–KDNP

Municipalities

Heves County has 1 urban county, 10 towns, 3 large villages and 107 villages.

City with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)

  • Eger (56,569) – county seat

Towns

Large villages

Villages

Gallery

International relations

Heves County has a partnership relationship with:

Slovakia Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia Romania Covasna County, Romania Romania Harghita County, RomaniaFrance Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France Poland Przemyśl County, Lesser Poland, Poland Sweden Värmland County, Sweden

References and notes

References

Notes

External links

  • in Hungarian

47°50′N 20°15′E/47.833°N 20.250°E/ 47.833; 20.250