Geographica Timisiensis, vol. 19, nr. 1, 2010 (pp.

173-188 ) ●

HISTORICAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF CRAIOVA

CITY BETWEEN 1820 AND 1990

Sorin AVRAM
University of Craiova, Faculty of Social Sciences, Geography Department

Abstract. Although founded on the place of an ancient Roman settlement – Pelendava, situated
within a genuine rural area, Craiova city experienced a quite slow development. The first realistic
cartographic documents, dating back to the beginning of the 14th century, presents a settlement made
up of some buildings, most of them belonging to the landlords who owned large estates (Estate of the
Neagoe, Estate of the Buzeşti, and the Princely Estate), the rest of the inhabitants possessing
semipermanent, improvised dwellings. The industrialization period brings changes in the
physiognomy of the city, as the economic capital resulted from agricultural production starts being
reinvested in different equipments for the processing of agricultural products; the local public
administration has a gradually increasing fund for improving the technical-urban infrastructure; the
inhabitants diversify their activities and small handicraft workshops (2-10 workers) develop. The
built-up surface knows an incredible development during the communist period, and we aim at
industrial platforms, which, in their turn, lead to the appearance of new jobs, and increase the need
for residential districts, as the inhabitants’ number grows ever higher.

Rezumat. Istoricul dezvoltării urbane a municipiului Craiova între 1820-1990. Deşi fondat pe
bazele localităŃii antice, romane – Pelendava, situat într-un spaŃiu eminamente rural, oraşul Craiova a
cunoscut o dezvoltare destul de lentă. Primele documente cartografice veridice, de la începutul sec.
XIV, prezintă localitatea formată din doar căteva clădiri, majoritatea aparŃinând moşierilor ce
deŃineau terenuri cu o suprafaŃă extinsă ( Moşia Neagoe, Buzeştilor şi Moşia Domnească), restul
locuitorilor având locuinŃe improvizate. Perioada industrializării comportă modificări şi în fizionomia
oraşului, capitalul economic obŃinut din producția agricolă începe să fie reinvestit în instalații de
prelucrare a producției agricole; administrația publică locală dispune din ce în ce mai multe fonduri
pentru lucrările tehnico-edilitare; locuitori își diversifică activitățile dezvoltându-se activitățile
meșteșugărești de mici dimensiuni (2-10 lucrători). Suprafață construită se dezvoltă vertiginos în
perioada comunistă, prin platformele industriale care la rândul lor crează noi locuri de muncă și
nevoia de a asigura cartiere rezidențiale pentru numărul tot mai mare de locuitori.

Key words. Craiova city, spatial demand, urban planning

Cuvinte cheie. Orașul Craiova, dezvoltare spațială, amenajare urbană

INTRODUCTION

The presence of a human settlement or human community within an area

automatically imposes the alteration of pre-existent natural conditions. In the present
studies, the limit of a territory sustainability capacity is indicated by the degradation of life
quality within the respective settlement or by the impossibility to regain the ecologic
174 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

balance. The first element obviously refers to the proper urban space, which is strongly
influenced by human activities and where the quality of habitation is capital, while the
second acquires importance starting from the limit of the built-up area towards the rural
space.
According to the ONU, it has to be achieved the adaptation of ‘urban and
metropolitan areas to rational production and consumption models”. Thus, it becomes
compulsory to encourage the setting up of a green-yellow belt able to ensure environment
protection, as well as the supply of food products necessary to urban population. The
European Union goes even further considering that urban habitats must reduce their
dependence on those non-renewable resources originating outside the built-up perimeter.
However, the space outside the built-up area, located in its immediate proximity (rural-
urban fringe), has to be considered vital in terms of renewable resource offer, such as the
pedological, hydrological, biological ones, without ignoring the preservation of natural
ecosystems (and the bio-geo-chemical circuit).
The scheme of territorial coherence used in France stipulates that the interference
territory between the urban and rural environment has to aim at controlling urban sprawl,
displaying an important landscape, ecological, and recreational function. Thus, when
analysing and implementing present territorial planning policies, it is necessary to know the
past of the city, in this case of Craiova city, in order to avoid former mistakes and to get
aware of the factors that conditioned its spatial evolution and take them into account in the
modernization process.
Due to the favourability of the geographical position, the continuity of the settlement
is certified by different cartographic documents and not only. It started as a borough town,
which got highly industrialized in the ‘70s, while presently, as industrial platforms stopped
functioning, it became a tertiary city with an obvious manufacturing character, and thus, it
somehow returned to its origins.

FEATURES OF THE SETTLEMENT IN THE MIDDLE AGES

In the cartographic documents dating back in the 14th-15th century, when the
settlement was mentioned for the first time, in Craiova, there were only estates and some
buildings (Fig. 1). The main estates located within the perimeter of the future city were
Craioveştii Neagoe Estate, Buzeşti Property and the Princely Estate (Fig. 1). It is difficult to
assess the fringe and even harder to establish its limits. However, the analysis of the map
allows us to locate the surfaces influenced by human activities and, in a certain degree, even
the natural relief conditions.
 Sorin AVRAM ● 175

Fig. 1 Craiova in the 14th-15th centuries

Craiova intre secolele 14 si 15.

The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the Turkish occupation,
which affected local population (especially merchants and intellectuals) and, of course, the
development of the settlement. These changes occurring in the town also influenced the
suburban settlements, as numerous peasants left the area for safer mountain villages. The
176 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

rehabilitation of the town started in the 4th decade as a consequence of the diminution of
foreign political interference that triggered a demographic increase.
The professional structure of the town population diversified due to the
increase of the economic capital invested in the town. Thus, the inhabitants’ estimated
number reached 20,000 persons, 1/7 of them being involved in agricultural activities within
the administrative perimeter of the town (Fig. 2).

state estates
3%

boyar’s estates
community 30%
properties
60%

monastery
estates
7%

Fig. 2 Types of land ownership within Craiova administrative area (1848)

Tipuri de proprietate asupra terenului în zona administrativă Craiova (1848)

The documents of the time (The Organic Regulations) stipulated that the agricultural
surface was disproportionally distributed, as 78% were covered by vineyards, 19% by
arable land, and 3% by orchards with hay fields (Fig. 3). The inhabitants grew especially
oxen and cows as they were also used for agricultural works. The same statistics mentioned
500 carts, 1,000 oxen, and 1,200 cows. The appearance and development of capitalist
production units were based on pre-existent industrial forms, such as the domestic industry.
The professions practiced by the inhabitants of the city and of the neighbouring areas, were
grouped in guilds; the typical number of workers per workshop was 4-7.
Even if the economy of the town was mainly agrarian, in 1832, the documents of the
time mentioned 17 factories, 16 processing leather and one linen. The general aspect of the
settlement was that of a borough or boroughs gathered towards the precincts of the
settlement (T. Arghezi), dominated by shops.
 Sorin AVRAM ● 177

arable land orchards with

19% hay fields
3%

vineyards
78%

Fig. 3. Structure of agricultural

terrains within the administrative
perimeter of Craiova
Structura terenurilor agricole în perimetrul
administrativ al Craiovei

THE LIFE OF THE TOWN BETWEEN 1835 AND 1918

The reforms achieved during the Al. I. Cuza’s reign marked the evolution of the
town, which, at the beginning of his rule reflected the passage of the Romanian economy
from feudalism to capitalism.
During this period, Craiova counted about 25,000 inhabitants and was the second
town after the capital of the Romania Country as size. There were 4,633 buildings, 3,220 of
them houses, 26 churches, 11 schools, 60 factories/workshops. Of the total number of
houses, 2,500 belonged to the poor population; they had one floor or were built
underground (Georgescu T., et all, 1977). Craiova represented one of the towns that
contributed to the economic life of the Romanian Country to a great extent, as one of the
most important handicraft and commercial centres of the country. About 15% of the
population practiced a profession, 14% being involved in commercial activities. The
traditional handicrafts were the most developed, meaning the processing of leather,
manufacturing sheepskin coats, caps etc. There were mentioned about 200 such workshops,
where more than 100 journeymen and apprentices worked together with the handicraftsmen.
At the same time, there were almost 200 shoemakers, 150 men cloth tailors, almost 100
ironsmiths, 50 tanners, 10 dyers, and tens of other handicraftsmen who produced belts,
saddles, soap, rope, wheels, hats, blankets etc. The raise of the natural increase led to the
extension of the town and, of course, to a greater number of handicraftsmen specialized in
constructions. Consequently, there was mentioned a number of about 250 carpenters, brick
makers, bricklayers etc. It is worth mentioning that there were 38 architects in the town,
more than in all the counties of the Romanian Country together, except for Ilfov.
178 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

In food branch, it also registered an increase of handicraftsmen’s number, as there

were mentioned more than 170 bakers, butchers, millers, confectioners etc. Rich population
permitted the development of specific handicrafts – more than 150 milliners, upholsterers
and decorators, barbers, hairdressers, wig makers etc.
Overall, in Craiova, there were more than 1,000 handicraftsmen in the workshops of
which there worked more than 600 journeymen and almost 500 apprentices; they
represented 57.7% of the total number of handicraftsmen from Dolj County.
The number and great diversity of handicrafts revealed the advanced stage of work
division. Even if the handicraftsmen’s number was almost equal to the number of
journeymen and apprentices, there were numerous workshops that belonged to the simple
capitalist corporation, which used 4-5 to 10 workers, together with small workshops the
disappearance of which they quickened creating thus the premises for superior production
forms, such as manufactures or factories. During the same period, there were mentioned 90
industrial units, most of them producing goods – 12 mills, 3 beer factories, 2 gas and oil
factories, 4 tanneries, 2 printing works. In spite of the obvious progress, in terms of both
number and production volume, compared to the first half of the 19th century, the reduced
production rate and rudimentary equipments indicated a precarious state of the industrial
units, many of them being limited to the stage of simple capitalist corporations. Both
factories and handicrafts workshops based their production on goods supplied by
agriculture. Agricultural products were easy to find in the area and thus, there emerged one
of the major features of the economic life of the town, which was to be characteristic during
the entire capitalist period.
A normal consequence triggered by the development of handicrafts, industry, and
population’s numerical increase was the development of trade. Craiova concentrated about
1,000 merchants, who worked in 1,230 shops. It was registered a remarkable increase of the
merchants’ number involved in provisioning the town, about 700, most of them selling
animals, wine, wood, timber, furs, tobacco. Almost 150 merchants supplied raw materials to
handicrafts workshops and to industrial units – iron, copper and other metals, suet, wool etc.
We also mention intense commercial exchanges with Transylvania, proven by the high
number of merchants commercializing the so-called braşovene products (coming from
Brasov). The great volume of commercial activities from Craiova is also illustrated by the
presence of 3 bankers and 7 usurers, as well as of other errand agents.
Located in the middle of the county with the most numerous population in the
country and one of the greatest agricultural productions (which already adapted to the
demands of the market economy of the period by tilling technical plats at a large scale and
by increasing the rate of cereals, especially wheat, required for export), Craiova became a
real centre for processing and sale of these goods. At the same time, the town polarized the
handicrafts and commercial activity of the other counties from Oltenia, the goods and
weekly markets being the target of many merchants. The important local merchants supplied
cereals to the capital during the Crimea war from 1855-1856. Thus, the town developed on
the grounds of internal consumption, but certain merchants got aware of the importance of
the benefits generated by the economic exchanges with other merchants from Transylvania,
the region south of the Danube or Central Europe.
A proof of the town economic development was the appearance of the first
shareholder company, in 1860, ‘The shareholder company of the steam mill of Calafat”. At
the same time, more than 50,000 t of wheat were exported, representing over 70% of the
 Sorin AVRAM ● 179

total county production, the entire rapeseed production, maize, barley, oat, honey, wax etc.
Imports mainly focussed on tobacco, glass, sugar, cotton, cloths, tools, agricultural
machines (less numerous). Commerce development was impelled by the construction of
telegraph lines, modernization of roads and construction of new access ways, but, the lack
of railways affected goods circulation until 1875, when the town was connected to
Bucharest and Severin (Bucharest – Piteşti – Craiova – Vârciorova railway).
Even if the development of the town is quite remarkable, the economic opportunities
offered by the central position within the Oltenia Plain and by the numerous labour force
were not entirely capitalized. This situation was certified by the fact that more than 200
workers were looking for jobs in agriculture. The main obstacle for its development was the
maintenance of feudal relations until 1864, the lack of state independence and of the unique
national market, as well as the lack of a progressive state politics. The agricultural profile
was also emphasized by the increased number of the inhabitants directly involved in
agriculture, 12.20% of the entire population of the town. The population earning its living
from free professions also had a great share – 20%.
The development of capitalism led to significant social modifications. In the first half
of the 19th century, Craiova was considered as the town of great boyards, but by the time of
the Union, social life was marked by the development of a new social class – the
bourgeoisie represented by almost 2,000 merchants, handicraftsmen, and owners of
workshops and industrial units, and a great number of land agents, the highest in the country
after Bucharest. During the same period, an important social class was the working class
counting for over 2,000 people; it was actively involved in all the revolutionary movements
from the middle of the century.
In spite of the economic progress, from the social point of view, we cannot speak
about the same situation. The medical system for example was poor; there were only 12
doctors who had to ensure medical assistance for the population of the entire county, which
meant 1 doctor for almost 17,000 people. However, public urban education developed; in
1862, there functioned 8 primary schools (18 teachers and more than 1,000 pupils) and 1
central college (14 teachers and 140 pupils).
By the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the economic
life is marked by the presence of small factories of chemical and metallurgical products, of
agricultural machines and tools producing for local needs. Almost all industrial units from
Craiova focused on processing agricultural products and this was the major feature of the
town industry.
At a large scale, on the base of profits, light industry developed. Thus, there were
mentioned different tanneries, such as the one from BucovăŃ, settled in 1882, which
processed between 12,000 and 15,000 skins annually (1904). Textile industry, which
benefited from the advantages of the law for encouraging national industry, did not reach
the expected level, as there functioned two frieze factories and one thick cloth factory.
The industry of construction materials registered a significant development (bricks,
tiles, plaster) due to the accessibility of raw materials and to the modernization works.
Wood processing was achieved in specialized workshops producing furniture, carriages,
and broughams.
Commerce underwent a visible progress, the development rhythm of commercial
companies being a rapid one – 124 commercial companies in 1890, 341 in 1900, and 646 in
1906; there predominated the companies that sold cereals, manufacture items, spirits, fish,
180 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

fruit, meat, iron items, wood, timber, haberdashery, leather goods, agricultural machines,
sewing machines, electrical items, clocks etc.
Most of these goods were sold in shops and deposits, except for cereals and animals,
which were merchandized in markets. Cereals were directly sold in the shops of the great
mill owners or exporters, which represent an impediment for small owners as the price was
imposed by the first category of merchants. Even if the authorities tried to solve the problem
(forbidding the sale of cereals outside permanent markets), the commerce and industry
chamber from Craiova imposed the normal functioning of a permanent market only by the
end of the First World War. In Craiova, international trade with cereals was highly
developed, but monopolized by the great mill owners, such as Şt. Barbu Drugă or other
strong exporters. Thus, the structure of trade illustrates the features of the economy of the
region, where agriculture was the main branch. Imports were represented by colonial
products, clocks and watches, manufacture items, sewing machines, agricultural machines,
jewellery etc. Bank commerce was also impelled – there were 6 banks and 2 exchange
houses.
In the first decades of the 20th century, the development of industry, trade and banks
led to the numerical increase of bourgeoisie, as well as of its economic and political power.
The total number of the population exceeded 50,000 people; in 1910, it reached 51,404
inhabitants and Craiova became the second city as size from Romania (Fig. 4) after
Bucharest.
The numerical increase of the population led to the progress of the town, but we
cannot speak about a proper systematization of the districts, as the representatives of the
rich class raised buildings ignoring the most elementary urban planning rules. After 1880,
the main streets in Craiova were Union Street, Justice Street, Railway Station Boulevard,
and here, local authorities tries certain systematization. They were paved with artificial
basalt, gritstone and porphyry brought from Switzerland, France and Belgium, they built
pavements and started panting trees on their border. The first electric bulbs functioned at
Theodorini theatre in 1887 and the town had its own electric power plant starting with 1895.
After 1890, there were introduced public sanitation services; it was built the main sewer, the
public bath, the slaughter house, and a new market. Even if there were intense discussions,
water supply, introduction of a sewer system and the construction of tram lines were
postponed many years.
In spite of all these problems, the general aspect of the town changed as there
appeared numerous public or private buildings. The construction styles were different –
Renaissance, baroque, classic, neoclassic, romantic, Romanian etc.; constructors were
generally of French, Italian, German, and Romanian origin. There appeared parks and
gardens and public monuments were built. Thus, between 1901 and 1903, it was constructed
Bibescu Park, covering about 100 ha, in a romantic style according to the plans of the
French landscape designer E. Redont. At the same time, the Jiu Floodplain was fitted out as
a forest-park, on a surface of 60 ha, as well as Dinu Mihail Park (Fig. 5).
 Sorin AVRAM ● 181

Fig. 4 Craiova settlement by the beginning of the 20th century

Craiova la începutul secolului XX

DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD

The period of the two interwar decades represented an important stage in the
economic, social, and town development also for Craiova. It was the twelfth city in the
country in terms of population, reaching 63,063 inhabitants in 1930. Administrative centre
of one of the most important counties in the country, located entirely within an agricultural
area, Craiova knew a slow and unilateral development rhythm. The industrialization
characteristic to the capitalist period occurred much slower compared to other urban
settlements of the country. The great landlords of Oltenia, who possessed an important
capital after receiving financial compensations for the land reform, invested the funds in
banks and commercial institutions, in unproductive shares, just a few of them in industry.
The post-war development of the town did not included all the branches of the economy and
it was restricted by the maintenance of feudal properties, a limited market made up (87%) of
peasants with an extremely low standard of life, lack of capital, raw materials, and by the
insufficiency of means of transportations.
The data supplied by the 1930 census, when there where registered 1,240
industrial companies with 5,530 workers, obviously emphasize the reduced economic
development of the town. These companies were mainly handicrafts workshops, which
represented the essential feature of the town industry for a long period.
182 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

Fig. 5 The plan of Craiova city in 1916

Planul oraşului Craiova în anul 1916

Defining features of the unilateral development of the town industry were the
preponderantly increase of the food and light industries, precarious equipments, and lack of
perspective. Most of the companies had old equipments, modest mechanization, and
improper production spaces. The process of passing to a mass production was difficult, the
capitalist factories continuing to play a reduced part in industry. This situation is highlighted
by the great share of home workers, who exceeded with about 48% the number of the
people working in factories in 1930. A direct consequence of this slow rhythm of industrial
development is the fact that the process of capital centralization did not register the same
intensity as in the other urban centers of the country.
 Sorin AVRAM ● 183

The intermingle between bank and industrial capital got more obviuous after the
First World War, especially in those years registering an over-production. Many banks in
Craiova or branches of different bank societies invested capital in many companies
dominating the local economic and politic life.
As Craiova served a predominantly agrarian area, there developed a strong bank
bourgeoisie, who prospered due to financial speculations. However, industry was highly
ignored by the beginning of the Second World War and Craiova was far behind other urban
centres of the country. Comparing this period to the previous one, there was a clear
economic development, but at a lower scale than in other cities.
The metallurgic workshops and the so-called factories of agricultural tools and
machines did not in fact produce such equipments; they just executed different reparations
and thus, responded at a low extent to the demands of this vast agrarian area. Neither the
food industry that registered the highest development during the interwar period could
ensure the superior capitalization of the agricultural products. Textile industry was
represented by two notable factories. The only industrial branch that reached the national
and even international standards was that of graphic arts, the products of the two companies
from Craiova being highly appreciated.
Thus, by the end of the interwar period, the town was an important commercial and
bank centre, displaying a poorly developed, scattered industry, dominated by small
workshops without some main industrial branches, such as electro-technical, chemical,
electric power industries. This means it could not cover the economic necessities of the
country and of the Oltenia region.
From the social point of view, labour conditions were extremely difficult, even if the
law voted in 1928 stipulated a legal working program of 8 hours. At the same time, the
hygiene and sanitary conditions within production units were quite precarious and there
occurred numerous labour accidents. This economic and social-political background was
clearly illustrated by the extremely high number of illiterate people – in 1930, 24,167
people out of a total population of 63,063 were reported illiterate.
This situation got even worse during the Second World War, when both illiteracy
and death rate reached extremely high levels.

SOCIAL-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN BETWEEN 1945

AND 1990

After 1945, the accelerated progress of the socio-economic life triggered the population’s
numerical increase in Craiova. Thus, if in 1948, Craiova counted 84,574 inhabitants, in 1956, it
reached 96,897 inhabitants and in 1974, 194,235 inhabitants (221,901 people if we include the
suburban communes). Consequently, between 1956 and 1974, the population of the city increased
with 97,338 inhabitants, which represents a 92.7% rise in the total number. It is also worth
mentioning that the population of Craiova represented about 78% of the urban population of the
county on the 1st of July 1974; compared to other municipalities, it was the 7th city in the country,
not far behind GalaŃi, Braşov, Iaşi, Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca etc. Thus, there was a dominant
tendency of permanent numerical increase of the population, which must not be considered a
phenomenon in itself, but more an expression of the economic development of the city.
The population’s sex structure proves the strong industrialization process
characteristic for this period, meaning that, in the interval 1965-1970 for example, the
184 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

highest rate was held by the feminine population, while after 1970, the masculine
population registered higher values. The massive industrialization of Craiova area also
influenced other demographic phenomena. The general increase of the population was
highly influenced by the migratory increase. For example, in 1965, 5,899 of 6,708 people
resulted from migratory increase. This difference maintained in the next years as well, even
if at a lower level – in 1972, the total increase was of 4,277 inhabitants, 2,624 persons
resulting from the migratory phenomenon. Birth rate registered high values between 1965
and 1975.
Death rate registered an obvious decline in Craiova, from 6.9‰ in 1965 to 5.9‰ in
1974. Infant mortality was characterized by the same downward tendency: 53.7‰ in 1965,
47.2‰ in 1970, 34.3‰ in 1973, and 25.4‰ in 1974.
An important aspect with special implications in the social-economic development of
Craiova Municipality and especially on the local labour force, it is represented by sex
structure according to the educational level. Thus, in 1966, the rate of the masculine
population who benefited from education was much higher than that of the feminine
population; the only stage where feminine population registered higher rates was that of
primary schools (34,766 feminine and 25,204 masculine). The most relevant difference
occurred at the level of higher education institutions, as the rate of masculine population
was of 4,807 men, while in the case of feminine population, there were only 2,200 women,
namely les than a half.
With regard to the structure on age and sex groups, in 1966, it was noticed that the
rate of masculine population was higher than the rate of feminine population, but there were
reduced differences. The only age category with notable differences, as the masculine
population was 4,701 persons more numerous than the feminine population, was the group
15-19. This discrepancy was mainly induced by the industrialization process of the
municipality and especially by the development of those industrial branches, which required
masculine labour force, such as the machine industry, building material industry, chemical
industry etc. The further development of different branches of the light industry (textile,
ready-make cloth, food industries etc.) led to the considerable diminution of the difference
between sex categories in the case of the age group of the population able to work. The
average age of the population able to work (15-64 years old) was 34, the category 15-39
counting for 66.7% of the labour force, which proves that the Municipality of Craiova
disposed of important labour resources that favoured social-economic development.
The number of jobs constantly increased from one year to another; we also notice the
increase of the rate of people employed in industry from 35.4% in 1960 to 43.6% in 1974,
together with the decrease of the rate of the population working in agriculture and forestry
from 4.8% in 1960 to 1.8% in 1974, due to the mechanization and automation process of
the agricultural works. The population employed in constructions increased from 9.9% to
14.1%, but there occurred a decrease of the number of people involved in the educational
system, scientific research, culture and arts, from 13.4% to 12.4%. Another defining feature
of the labour force was its concentration in large production units. If in 1930, in Oltenia, it
functioned only one factory with more than 500 employees, in 1968, there were registered
11 companies with more than 1,000 employees, while in 1975, there were mentioned
industrial units with more than 5,000 employees, such as Electroputere, Industrial
Constructions Corporation, the Chemical Combine, Local Constructions Corporation etc
(Georgescu T., et all, 1977).
 Sorin AVRAM ● 185

The industrialization of Craiova Municipality started through the development of some

former industrial branches focussed on goods production. In 1949, Electroputere Company
appeared on the market, and in 1957, it was settled ‘November 7’ Company through the union
of some small companies. The gradually increasing industrial production was thus ensured
through the development of new factories and sections, modernization of the present ones, as
well as through important financial investments. In 1965, of the total amount of investments
allotted to the municipality, 83% were for industry, while in the period 1965-1970, 73% of the
investments were directed towards the same field. Of the total industrial investments, about
90% were allotted to the branches producing production means and the rest to the branches
producing goods.
The global industrial production of the municipality increased about 6.8 times in
1970 compared to 1960 and about 10.5 times in 1975. The most rapid development was
experienced by electric power, machine, and chemical industries, which was a common
tendency at a national level, but at a higher rate in Craiova (if in the entire country global
production increased at a mean annual rate of 12.8% in the period 1961-1970, in Craiova,
the respective indicator reached 21.1%).
In the period 1966-1970, there were built about 48 factories and sections – Factory
of high voltage devices, Electric Power Plants Company etc.; at Electroputere, there
developed other branches – transformers, electric engines, Diesel electric engines. At the
Chemical Combine, between 1965 and 1974, there developed 23 factories and installations
producing ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, urea, inorganic catalysts, oxygen, gas
acetylene, butanol, complex fertilizers etc. In the field of light and food industries, there
developed numerous units – Ready-to make cloth Company, Beer Factory, Factory of Dairy
Products, Bread Factory etc.
The main industrial units were mainly placed on the east and west platforms of the
city. The east platform comprised Electroputere Company, the Company of agricultural
machine construction ‘November 7’, and the Company for repairing the rolling material.
This area stimulated the development of some large districts, such as Calea Bucureşti and
Valea Roşie. The west platform comprised the Electric Power Plant Company, the Chemical
Combine, the Factory of concrete prefabs, the Beer Factory etc. In order to ensure a
functional framework to this industrial perimeter, there was raised the largest district of
Craiova, namely CraioviŃa Nouă. In the northern part of the city, there was built the
headquarters of the R.R. Company, while in the south, we mention the Factory for
industrializing sugar beat, the Oil Factory, and the Factory for milk collecting and
industrialization etc. Thus, the industrial units were placed at the periphery of the city and in
some cases on the territory of suburban communes.
Industrial development, as well as the development of other activity sectors
positively influenced exports – the goods volume increased and international commercial
exchanges intensifies. Thus, in 1970, there were exported more than 70 types of products in
40 countries. The most required products were electric railway engines, Diesel-electric of
2,100 HP, power transformers, electric engines, high voltage devices, agricultural
equipments, nitrous fertilizers, butanol, cloth and textile products, numerous food products.
Most of the products were exported in the former Soviet Union, China, the D.R. of
Germany, Poland, former Yugoslavia etc., all member states of the communist block.
186 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

The main construction units were the Industrial Construction Corporation specialized
in the construction of industrial companies, Dolj Local Construction Corporation, which
made dwellings and different agro-zootechnical units, and Dolj County Planning Institute.
Thus, the Industrial Construction Corporation was involved in the building of all
aforementioned industrial units. During this period, the Local Construction Corporation also
had an intense activity: there were built about 21,000 apartments, the National Theatre, the
railway station, the Central Stadium, the General Hospital together with the policlinics,
Electroputere Syndicate Club, high schools and general schools, students’ complex (hostels
and refectory). Consequently, the municipality of Craiova undergoes an obvious extension
and there developed the specific conception in constructions referring to the placement of
new buildings and districts towards the outskirts or on vacant plots in order to preserve the
historical centre of the city (Fig. 6). However, there emerged a new idea, that of the so-
called ‘stoppings’, referring to the placement of new constructions on free spaces from the
city centre or on the place of certain buildings considered without urban value.
Craiova covered a surface of 5,778 ha, developing at the contact with the agrarian
belts represented by the territory of some suburban communes – BucovăŃ (8,100 ha),
Cernele (2,100 ha), Şimnicul de Sus (8,500 ha) etc.
Generally, the inhabitants of the neighbouring communes worked in the field of
vegetable growing, the most important traditions originating in IşalniŃa. In fact, on the
territory of this commune, there were built one of the largest greenhouses in the country.
In 1974, the agriculture was practiced on 24,486 ha, 20,765 ha being arable terrains,
2,748 ha pastures and hay fields, and 973 ha vineyards and orchards (Georgescu T., et all,
1977).
Craiova municipality had to solve a series of complex problems: the lack of a
company of urban public transportation; the electric lighting and sewerage system were
restricted to a reduced number of streets etc. During this period, local authorities invested
quite much in infrastructure. For example, the length of the streets increased from 202 km in
1960, 220 km in 1970 to 262 km in 1974, while that of modernized street from 66 km in
1960 to 170 km in 1974. As streets extended and modernized, public lighting grid extended
from 200 km in 1960 to 230 in 1974. The total length of the water supply network increased
from 110.7 km in 1960 to 220.5 km in 1974.
Public transportation also registered a progress. The length of different bus routes
extended from 61 km in 1960 to 220 km in 1974 and the average number of vehicles
increased 7 times etc.
Between 1975 and 1990, the city continued to extend, but the focus was on
residential districts, as all major economic units of the city had already been achieved.
However, we mention the construction of the second car factory in the country, Olcit, which
started its production in 1981.
 Sorin AVRAM ● 187

Fig. 6 Spatial evolution of Craiova between 1790 and 1990

EvoluŃia spaŃială a oraşului Craiova între 1790 şi 1990

Craiova was the polarizing centre of the region and population total increase was
triggered especially by migratory increase. In 1990, the migratory increase registered an
extremely high value – about 107‰, but this is a special case, as immediately after the
revolution, residential status changes became allowed. The inhabitants’ number reached
almost 222,000 persons in 1977; economic development, better living standards, job
opportunities etc. determined a gradual increase, in 1990, statistical documents indicating
100,000 people more than in 1977 (about 322,000). Even if birth rate decreased compared
to the interval prior to 1977, in 1990, it was still higher than death rate (10.8‰, respectively
6.4‰).
The communist period transformed the former agrarian Craiova in a highly
industrialized city, the structure of the population involved in different fields of activity
eloquently illustrating the situation. Of the total active population of the city, about 40%
worked in industry, rate that decreased immediately after 1990.

CONCLUSIONS

The study of the historical-urban evolution of Craiova allowed the observation of the
factors that influenced the physiognomy of the city until 1990. If initially the limiting
factors for urban development were mainly represented by local topography issues and we
aim at a series of permanent or temporary streams tributary to the Jiu River (Valea lui
188 ● Historical urban development of Craiova citz between 1820 şi 1990

Opinca, Valea OrbeŃilor etc), afterwards, we mention the aspects related to local and
national economy and to the specificity of the area (predominantly agrarian area).
The development of a capitalist economy during the interwar period influenced
Craiova, as agricultural production offered a capital that started to be reinvested in
processing installations, especially for cereals; the inhabitants’ number increases,
professional structure diversifies, manufacture production and private initiative develop.
The appearance of the first shareholder societies in agricultural field, as well as the
development of bank sector increases the export capacity of the region. All these events
triggered the development and modernization of the city offering an ever higher standard of
life for its inhabitants.
The communist period changes the functions of the city one more time, as it becomes
an important industrial pole. There are built the present industrial platforms, factories of
railway engines, planes, cars, which impel the development of road and railway
infrastructure. The higher accessibility of the city and the attractiveness of the job offers
created the perspectives for demographic development, but there were some problems in
finding a dwelling. The implications of these changes at the level of the settlement are
presently felt through the dysfunctions of the functional areas of the city, as well as through
the relation between urban built-up area and its green-yellow belt.

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