Vâlcele (Hungarian: Előpatak, Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈɛløːpɒtɒk]) is a commune in Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania composed of four villages: Araci (Árapatak, the commune center), Ariușd (Erősd),
Hetea (Hetye), and Vâlcele.
Geography
The commune is located in the south-western part of Covasna County, 17 km (11 mi) from the county seat, Sfântu Gheorghe, on the border with Brașov County. It is situated at an altitude of 600 m (2,000 ft), at the foot of the Baraolt Mountains. The Olt River passes through the southern part of the commune.
Demographics
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1850
1,966
—
1920
2,664
+35.5%
1941
3,033
+13.9%
1977
3,050
+0.6%
2002
3,698
+21.2%
2011
4,475
+21.0%
2021
5,559
+24.2%
Source: Census data
Vâlcele has an ethnically mixed population. According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 4,292, of which 48.3% or 2,071 were Roma, 39.4% or 1,689 were Romanians, 9.9% or 427 were SzékelyHungarians, and 2.3% or 100 people belonged to other ethnicities. At the 2021 census, the commune had a population of 5,559, of which 58.84% were Roma, 31.59% were Romanians, and 5.05% were Székely Hungarians.[3]
Natives
Romulus Cioflec (1882 – 1955), writer, journalist, and activist
Nicolae Colan (1893 – 1967), cleric, a metropolitan bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church