Merișani

Merișani is a commune in Argeș County, Muntenia, Romania. It is composed of nine villages: Borlești, Brăteasca, Capu Piscului, Crâmpotani, Dobrogostea, Malu Vânăt, Merișani, Vărzaru, and Vâlcelele.

History

Humans have inhabited the area that now belongs to the commune since the Neolithic.
In the Middle Ages, the oldest written evidence is from 1428. The church in Vărzaru village was built around 1620.

Location

The commune is situated in the centre of Argeș County, at about from the county seat, Pitești, and to Curtea [de Argeș].

Geography

The commune is on the valley of the Argeș River, in a hilly region called Platforma Argeșului, part of the Getic Plateau. The climate is temperate, with frequent rains. Winters are usually cold, with plenty of snow, while summers have a moderate heat.

Demographics

The official data from the 2002 Census shows that the total population is of 4,428 persons. The majority are Romanians. The second ethnic group are the Roma. There are 5 people with other nationalities. However, the representants of the Romani community say that the Romani population is over 1,200 persons.

Transportation

The main way to get to Merișani is by car. There are a national road and several county roads. The railway is the other access way, but trains are very rare.

Economy

There are local resources, like oil, forests, and large lakes. There is also a camp that could help tourist development.
Merișani is considered, however, the poorest commune in the county.