Чимишлийский район: история, география и население.

Cimișlia is a district (raion) in southern Moldova, situated between the capital of Chișinău and the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, with its administrative center (oraș reședință) being the town of Cimișlia. On 1 January 2011, its population was officially recorded to be 61,700.

The earliest documented locations are Sagaidac, Javgur and Gura Galbenei, first mentioned from 1605 to 1670. The district was settled by Moldovans, unlike Leova District to the west. During the 17th and 18th centuries agriculture (primarily wine making) predominated, with a significant increase in population. In 1812, after the Russo Turkish War, Bessarabia was released Russian Empire until 1917. In 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia united with Romania; from 1918–1940 and 1941–1944, the district was part of Lăpușna County. In 1940, following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Treaty, Bessarabia was released the Soviet Union. In 1991, as a result of the independence of Moldova, the district was part of Lăpușna County until 2003 (when it became an administrative unit of Moldova).

The district is located in the southern Republic of Moldova. It is bordered by Hîncești District and Ialoveni District on the north, Căușeni District on the east and Gagauzia, Basarabeasca District and the Ukraine border on the south. The northern part of the district is hilly, where the Central Moldavian Plateau rises to ; elevations in the rest of the district rang from Erosion is not a serious problem.

Cimişlia District has a temperate continental climate with an average annual temperature of The July average temperature is , and in January. Annual precipitation is The average wind speed is .

The district has typical European fauna, with mammals such as foxes, hedgehogs, deer, wild boar, polecat, wild cat and ermine. Birds include partridge, crows, eagles, starlings and swallows.

Forests of the district include oak, ash, hornbeam, linden, maple and walnut. Plants include wormwood, knotweed, fescue and nettles.

The district is in the Black Sea basin, and the main river is the Cogâlnic. Most lakes are man made.

On 1 January 2012 the district's population was 61,300, of which 23.2 percent was urban and 76.8 percent was rural. Births (2010): 570 (9.2 per 1000)
Deaths (2010): 830 (13.4 per 1000)
Growth rate (2010): 260 ( 4.2 per 1000)

Ethnic group % of total Moldovans * 84.7 Ukrainians 4.9 Romanians * 4.0 Russians 3.7 Bulgarians 2.0 Gagauz 0.4 Romani 0.1 Other 0.2 Undeclared 0.65
Footnote: * There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.

Christians 98.0%
Orthodox Christians 96.0%
Protestant 2.0%
Seventh day Adventists 1.2%
Baptists 0.8%
Other 1.2%
None 0.8%

The district has 10,856 registered businesses. Agricultural land comprises , 59.6 percent of the total land area. Arable land is , 49.4 percent of the total land area. Orchards make up (2.5 percent), vineyards (7 percent) and pastures (12.9 percent of total area).

The district has 34 schools, with a total enrollment of 9,079 children (including 300 professional school students). There are 740 teachers.

The district has a museum, 15 works of art, 14 musical ensembles and 39 public libraries.

The district has a 200 bed hospital, a 14 office family practice center and six health centers. There are 65 doctors, 217 personal care aides and 115 auxiliary medical personnel.