Nógrád (Hungarian: Nógrád vármegye, pronounced [ˈnoːɡraːd]; Slovak: Novohradská župa) is a county (Hungarian: vármegye) of Hungary. It sits on the northern edge of Hungary and borders Slovakia.

Description

Nógrád county lies in northern Hungary. It shares borders with Slovakia and the Hungarian counties Pest, Heves and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. The capital of Nógrád county is Salgótarján. Its area is 2,544 km2. It is the smallest county by population and the second smallest by area (after Komárom-Esztergom).

Nógrád is famous for its historic architecture of ancient Gothic churches and stone castles dated to the 13th century. Some historic landmarks includes the Salgó Castle and several baroque buildings constructed in the 18th century and the Vay, Teleki. Much of the northern border of the county is formed by the river Ipoly. The mountain ranges Börzsöny, Cserhát and Mátra lie partly in the county.

Due to the mountains, the county is characterised by small villages nestled in the valleys. The two largest settlements are Balassagyarmat, the former county seat, and Salgótarján, which has become a center of industry in the early 20th century due to coal mines nearby.

History

Nógrád (Latin: comitatus Neogradiensis, German: Neuburg or Neograd, Slovak: Novohrad) was also the name of a historic administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. The name stems from the former Nógrád castle (Slovak: Novohrad - this name is still used in Slovakia as well as the informal designation of the corresponding territory, now located in southern Slovakia and in northern Hungary). In turn, Novohrad means "new castle" in Slovak.

Demographics

The population of Nógrád County was 182,459 as of the 2022 Census, with a population density of 72 individuals per square kilometer (72/km2). The number of households was 75,526 and the number of families was 49,077. Since the 2011 Census, the population decreased by 19,968 (-9.9%).

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1870125,522—
1880123,261−1.8%
1890141,314+14.6%
1900159,266+12.7%
1910174,155+9.3%
1920185,217+6.4%
1930200,438+8.2%
1941211,253+5.4%
1949214,757+1.7%
1960235,675+9.7%
1970234,430−0.5%
1980240,251+2.5%
1990227,137−5.5%
2001220,261−3.0%
2011202,427−8.1%
2022182,459−9.9%
Source:

Ethnicity

In the 2022 Census, the vast majority (86.3%) of the population identified as Hungarian. A minority of 7.8% identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 11.3% of the population did not respond. The ethnic groups most identified with were Romani (5.8%), Slovakian (1.2%), and German (0.4%). Small numbers identified as other domestic ethnic groups (390) or other groups (421).

In the 2011 Census, 85.4% of the population identified as Hungarian. Nearly a tenth (9.6%) of the population identified as belonging to another ethnic group and 13.0% did not respond. Romani made up 7.5% of the population, Slovakian 1.3%, and German (0.5%). Small numbers identified as other domestic ethnic groups (407) or other groups (308).

Religion

  1. Roman Catholic (66.8%)
  2. Lutheran (5.20%)
  3. Calvinistic (3.00%)
  4. Faith Church (1.40%)
  5. Other Christian denomination (4.10%)
  6. Other religion (0.30%)
  7. Not religious (19.2%)

In the 2022 Census, just over half of the population (51.4%) were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (42.5%). Other communities included Lutheran (3.4%), Calvinist (2.0%), Greek Catholic (0.3%), Other Christian denomination (2.1%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers (less than 100) were affiliated with Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. The non-religious made up 12.2% of the population. More than a third (36.4%) of the population did not respond.

In the 2011 Census, 63.4% of the population were religious adherents. The largest religious community was Roman Catholic (55.4%). Others included Lutheran (3.9%), Calvinist (2.1%), Greek Catholic (0.2%), Other Christian denomination (1.6%), and other religious affiliations (0.2%). Small numbers (less than 100) were affiliated with Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. Atheists made up (0.9%) of the population and other non-religious made up 12.2%. Nearly a quarter (23.5%) of the population did not respond.

In 1930, the population was 85.6% Roman Catholic, 9.4% Lutheran, 2.8% Jewish, 1.9% Calvinist, and others (0.3%).

Regional structure

District of Nógrád County
No.English and Hungarian namesArea (km2)Population (2022)Density (pop./km2)SeatNo. of municipalities
1Balassagyarmat District Balassagyarmati járás532.9436,60669Balassagyarmat29
2Bátonyterenye District Bátonyterenyei járás215.4518,87888Bátonyterenye8
3Pásztó District Pásztói járás551.5629,41553Pásztó26
4Rétság District Rétsági járás435.0324,22256Rétság25
5Salgótarján District Salgótarjáni járás525.2355,769106Salgótarján29
6Szécsény District Szécsényi járás285.2617,56962Szécsény14
Nógrád County2,545.48182,45972Salgótarján131

Politics

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

PartySeatsCurrent County Assembly
Fidesz-KDNP10
Our Homeland Movement3
Democratic Coalition1
Momentum Movement1

Presidents of the General Assembly

List of presidents since 1990
Ferenc Korill (SZDSZ)1990–1994
Sándor Smitnya (SZDSZ)1994–1998
Zsolt Becsó (Fidesz)1998–2002
Ottó Dóra (MSZP)2002–2006
Zsolt Becsó (Fidesz-KDNP)2006–2014
Nándor Skuczi (Fides-KDNP)2014–

Municipalities

Nógrád County has 1 urban county, 5 towns and 125 villages.

City with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)

Towns

Villages

Gallery

Notes

External links

  • in Hungarian

48°00′N 19°34′E/48.00°N 19.57°E/ 48.00; 19.57