View source for Ploiești

{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement-->
|name = Ploiești
|nickname = Capitala Aurului Negru<br />(English: the Capital of Black Gold){{force singular}}
|image_skyline = {{Photomontage
 |color=#ffffff
 |photo1a = Casa_Luca_Elefterescu,_azi_Muzeul_Ceasului_"Nicolae_Simache"_(2).JPG
 |photo2a = Ploiesti-Catedrala-3.JPG
 |photo2b = BancaRomaneasca-2.JPG
 |photo3a = Casa_Ghiță_Stoenescu,_azi_clinica_Alfa_Medical_Center,_Bd._Independenței_nr._27,_Ploiești_(1).JPG
 |photo3b = Casa_Radu_Stanian,_fosta_Casa_Căsătoriilor,_Ploiești_(2).JPG
 |spacing = 2
 |border = 0
 |size = 266
 |position = center
}}
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = Left to right: Nicolae Simache Clock Museum, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, the former Creditul Prahovei, the Ghiță Stoenescu House, the Radu Stanian House. 
|image_map = Ploiesti jud Prahova.png
|map_caption = Location in Prahova County
|settlement_type = [[Municipiu|County seat and Municipality]]
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{ROU}}
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|pushpin_map = Romania
|pushpin_mapsize = 250
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Ploiești within Romania
|image_shield = ROU PH Ploiesti CoA1.png
|shield_size = x95px
|subdivision_type1 = [[Counties of Romania|County]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Prahova County|Prahova]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Subdivisions of Romania|Status]]
|subdivision_name2 = {{Autolink|County seat}}
|leader_title = Mayor {{no bold|(2024&ndash;2028)}}
|leader_name = [[Mihai Polițeanu]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-alegeri2024-27212368-rezultate-alegeri-2024-independentul-mihai-politeanu-castigat-primaria-ploiesti-25-5-din-voturi-peste-5-procente-candidatii-pnl-psd.htm |title= Independentul Mihai Poliţeanu a câștigat Primăria Ploiești cu 25,5% din voturi, la peste 5 procente de candidații PNL și PSD |publisher=Hotnews.ro |access-date=14 June 2024 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party = {{Polparty|RO|Independent}}
|area_total_km2 = 48.28
|elevation_m = 160
|population_as_of = [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]]
|population_total = 180,540
|population_rank = [[List of cities and towns in Romania|10th]]
|pop_est_as_of = 
|population_est = 
|population_footnotes =<ref name="RPL2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tabel-1.03_1.3.1-si-1.03.2.xls|title=Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|INSSE]]|language=ro|date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
|population_metro = 266,457<sup>1</sup>
|population_density_km2 = 3,098
|coordinates = {{coord|44|56|28|N|26|01|21|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = Postal code
|postal_code = 100xxx
|area_code = (+40) 44
|website = {{URL|www.ploiesti.ro/}}
|blank_name_sec1 = [[Romanian car number plates|Car plate]]
|blank_info_sec1 = PH
|footnotes = <sup>1</sup> [[Ploiești metropolitan area]] is a proposed project.
}}

'''Ploiești''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|p|l|ɔɪ|ˈ|ɛ|ʃ|t|i}} {{respell|ploy|ESH|tee}}, {{IPAc-en|US|p|l|ɔː|ˈ|j|ɛ|ʃ|t|(|i|)}} {{respell|plaw|YESHT|ee}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Ploiesti |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ploesti |title=Ploeşti |work=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Ploieşti "Ploiești"]{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}} {{cbignore|bot=medic}} (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Ploie%C5%9Fti |title=Ploieşti |dictionary=[[Lexico|Oxford Dictionaries]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}} {{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Ploiesti |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|ro|ploˈjeʃtʲ|lang}}), formerly spelled '''Ploești''', is a [[Municipiu|city]] and [[county seat]] in [[Prahova County]], [[Romania]]. Part of the historical region of [[Muntenia]], it is located {{cvt|56|km}} north of [[Bucharest]].

The area of Ploiești is around {{cvt|60|km2}}, and it borders the [[Blejoi]] commune in the north, [[Bărcănești, Prahova|Bărcănești]] and [[Brazi]] communes in the south, [[Târgșoru Vechi]] commune in the west, and [[Bucov]] and [[Berceni, Prahova|Berceni]] communes in the east. According to the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]], Ploiești is the [[List of cities and towns in Romania|tenth most populous city]] in the country with a population of 180,540.<ref name="RPL2021"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26058967-harta-interactiva-populatia-romaniei-fiecare-localitate-din-tara-recensamantul-2021-2011-cele-mai-mari-creseri-cele-mai-drastice-scaderi.htm|title=Populația României în fiecare localitate din țară – Recensământul 2021 vs. 2011|trans-title=Romania's population for each city in the country – 2021 vs. 2011 Censuses|publisher=Hotnews.ro|language=ro|date=2 February 2023}}</ref>

The city grew beginning with the 17th century on an estate bought by ruler [[Michael the Brave]] from the local landlords, gradually replacing nearby Wallachian fairs of [[Târgșor]], [[Gherghița]], and Bucov. Its development was accelerated by heavy industrialisation during the mid-19th century, with the world's first large-scale [[oil refinery|petroleum refinery]] being opened between 1856 and 1857. Following massive exploitation of the oil deposits in the area, Ploiești earned the nickname of "the Capital of Black Gold". In the present, a significant part of its economic activity is still based on oil processing, the city having three large refineries and other industries related to this branch.

Ploiești is also an important [[transport hub]], linking the capital with the regions of [[Transylvania]] and [[Moldavia]]. The city has direct access to [[Prahova Valley]], one of the most important alpine tourism areas in Romania.

==History==
{{Quote box 
|title=
|quote='''WWII refineries<br />(monthly metric tonnes)''':<ref name=Gurney>"U.S. Air Force {{sic|photo"}} [diagram] in {{Cite journal |last=Gurney |first=Gene (Major, USAF) |year=1962 |title=The War in the Air: a pictorial history of World War II Air Forces in combat |location=New York |publisher=Bonanza Books |page=121}}</ref>
#Astra Română (146,000)
#Colombia Aquila (45,000)
#[[Vega Refinery|Concordia Vega]] (110,000)
#[[Petrobrazi Refinery|Creditul Minier]] (45,000)
#Dacia Romana (15,000)
#Phoenix (65,000)
#[[Petrotel Lukoil Refinery|Româno-Americana]] (92,000)
#[[Standard Oil|Standard Petrol Block]][https://books.google.com/books?id=KV8Ma-VA6fIC&pg=PA123] (36,000)
#Unirea Sperantza (33,000)
#Xenia (22,000)
|align=left
|width=23em 
|fontsize=70% 
|bgcolor=#B0C4DE
}}

Though likely settled much earlier,{{original research inline|date=July 2019}} Ploiești first appeared in documents in the 16th century during the reign of [[Michael the Brave]], the Prince of [[Wallachia]] ({{reign|1593|1601}}). It flourished as a center for trade and handicraft-manufacturing in the 17th and 18th centuries. The road connecting Ploiești to [[Brașov]] was opened in 1864, and the railway arrived in 1882. Many schools and hospitals date from this period.

In the mid-19th century, the region of Ploiești became one of the world's leading [[petroleum|oil]]-extraction and [[oil refinery|-refinery]] sites. The Mehedințeanu brothers opened the [[Oil refinery#History|world's first large refinery]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/eakins/we_1844.htm |title=WORLD EVENTS: 1844–1856 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]].org |access-date=2009-04-22 |quote="world's first oil refinery" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705142847/http://www.pbs.org/eakins/we_1844.htm |archive-date=2017-07-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> in Ploiești in 1856–1857. History also remembers the city as the site of the self-styled [[Republic of Ploiești]], a short-lived 1870 revolt against the [[Kingdom of Romania|Romanian monarchy]].

During [[World War I]], Ploiești's oil production made it a target when the [[Central Powers]] [[Romanian Campaign (1916)|invaded Romania in 1916]], a [[British Army]] operation commanded by [[Sir John Norton-Griffiths, 1st Baronet|Colonel John Griffiths]] destroying production and sabotaging much of the infrastructure of the industry.<ref>
{{cite book |last=Burg |first=David F. |others=L. Edward Purcell |title=Almanac of World War I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p-NwX2siCJMC |access-date=2012-10-29 |year=2010 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=9780813137711 |pages=336 |quote=7 December 1916 [...] [[Erich von Falkenhayn|Falkenhayn]]'s [[9th Army (German Empire)|Ninth Army]] turns to the north in hopes of capturing the oil fields and refineries at Ploesti, but Falkenhayn is too late: John Norton-Griffiths has done his work. The oil fields at Ploesti, Targoviste, and elsewhere are aflame and their refining facilities in ruins – a severe loss to the German war effort, as it will be months before production can be restored.}}</ref>

[[File:Ploiesti 1943 bombardament.jpg|thumb|left|Columbia Aquila refinery burning after the raid of B-24 Liberator bombers, [[Operation Tidal Wave]], in 1943]]
Although badly damaged after the [[1940 Vrancea earthquake|November 1940 earthquake]], the city functioned as a significant{{ref|1|1}} source of oil for [[Nazi Germany]] during much of [[World War II]]. The [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] made Ploiești a target of the [[oil campaign of World War II]] and [[Aerial bombing during World War II|bombed]] it repeatedly,<ref>{{cite video |year=1943 |title=Video: American Bombers Smash Axis Oil Fields In Romania Etc. (1943) |url=https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.38971 |publisher=[[Universal Newsreel]] |access-date=February 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922012824/http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.38971 |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
such as during the [[HALPRO]] (Halverson Project, June 1942) and [[Operation Tidal Wave]] (1 August 1943) at a great loss, without producing any significant delay in operation or production. Soviet [[Red Army]] troops [[Battle of Romania (1944)|captured Ploiești]] on 24 August 1944.

Following the war, the new [[Communist Romania|Communist]] régime of Romania [[nationalization|nationalised]] the [[oil industry]], which had largely been privately owned, and made massive investments in the oil- and petroleum-industry in a bid to modernise the country and to repair the war damage.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|source=Census data, 1930–1948.<ref>[https://sas.unibuc.ro/storage/downloads/analize-regionale-9/AG48a.RECENSAMANT48.pdf Populatia RPR la 25 ianuarie 1948, p. 14]</ref>
|1810 |2,024
|1859 |26,468
|1899 |45,107
|1912 |56,460
|1930 |79,149
|1941 |107,068
|1948 |95,632
|1956 |114,544
|1966 |146,922
|1977 |199,699
|1992 |252,715
|2002<ref name="EDRC_2002"/> |232,527
|2011<ref name="INSSE_2011"/> |209,945
|2021<ref name="RPL2021"/> |180,540
}}
The population of Ploiești went from 56,460, as indicated by the December 1912 census, up to 252,715 in January 1992. However, since the [[Romanian Revolution|fall of Communism]], the city's population continues to gently fall due to both emigration and a declining birth rate. At the 2002 census, the population was reduced to 232,527.<ref name="EDRC_2002">{{Cite web |url=http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=875&judet_id=1113&localitate_id=1114 |title=2002 Census |access-date=2010-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330024150/http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=875&judet_id=1113&localitate_id=1114 |archive-date=2012-03-30 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of the [[2011 Romanian census|2011 census]] data, Ploiești had a population of 209,945, while the proposed [[Ploiești metropolitan area]] would number 266,457 persons.<ref name="INSSE_2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.prahova.insse.ro/phpfiles/Comunicat%20-%20DATE%20PROVIZORII%20RPL%202011%20PRAHOVA.pdf |title=2011 Census press release |date=February 2, 2012 |access-date=March 10, 2012 |publisher=INSSE Prahova |language=ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801031447/http://www.prahova.insse.ro/phpfiles/Comunicat%20-%20DATE%20PROVIZORII%20RPL%202011%20PRAHOVA.pdf |archive-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> As of the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]] data, Ploiești had a population of 180,540.<ref name="RPL2021"/>

The majority of the inhabitants are ethnic Romanians (90.64%), but a [[Romani people|Roma]] minority (2.4%) is present in several neighborhoods of the city—predominantly Bereasca, Mimiu and Radu de la Afumați.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/locale/ploiesti/fotoreportaj-palatele-tiganesti-ploiesti-luxul-razlet-cartierele-sarace-romi-1_5108ba4a4b62ed5875b7dd3e/index.html |title=Palatele țigănești din Ploiești, luxul răzleț din cartierele sărace de romi |trans-title=Gyspsy palaces of Ploiești, the luxury within poor roma neighborhoods|date=30 January 2013 |access-date=11 April 2017 |language=ro |newspaper=[[Adevărul]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411222520/http://adevarul.ro/locale/ploiesti/fotoreportaj-palatele-tiganesti-ploiesti-luxul-razlet-cartierele-sarace-romi-1_5108ba4a4b62ed5875b7dd3e/index.html |archive-date=11 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> For 6.65% of the population, the ethnicity is unknown.<ref name="insse_2011_nat">2011 census results: {{cite web |url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_Tab_8.xls |title=Tab8. Ethnicity data – counties, cities and villages |publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|National Institute of Statistics]] – România |access-date=2013-08-05 |date=July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085459/http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_Tab_8.xls |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the people living in Ploiești declare themselves as [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]] (90.7%).<ref name="insse_2011_rel">2011 census results: {{cite web |url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_13.xls |title=Tab13. Ethnicity data – counties, cities and villages |publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|National Institute of Statistics]] – România |access-date=2013-08-05 |date=July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053537/http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_13.xls |archive-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Historical trends===
The population of Ploiești grew at a rapid pace because of the intense economic development of the area. In 1810, during the years of the Ottoman occupation, there were only around 2,024 inhabitants in the present-day city. In 1837 this grew to 3,000 inhabitants, 11 years after the Union in 1859 the population was 26,458, while in 1884 the number stood at 32,000. During the early 20th century, the population of Ploiești grew even more, due to the expansion of the petrol industry. Even though the city was bombed during World War II, the population of Ploiești recovered, numbering 95,632 inhabitants in January 1948.
{| class="toccolours" style="margin: 0 1em 0 1em;" width="55%"
|-
! align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#ccccff;" | '''Census'''
! align="center" colspan="10" style="background:#ccccff;" | '''Ethnic composition'''
|-
|'''Year'''
|'''Population'''
|'''[[Romanians]]'''
|'''[[Hungarians]]'''
|'''[[Germans]]'''
|'''[[Serbs]]'''
|'''Jews'''
|'''[[Romani people|Romani]]'''
|'''[[Russians]]'''
|'''[[Greeks]]'''
|'''[[Ukrainians]]'''
|-
| 1930
| '''79,149'''
| 69,139
| 1,591
| 1,307
|-
| 2011
| '''201,226'''
| 199,221
| 109
| 69
| –
| –
| 1289
| 44
| –
| 8
|}

==Economy==
[[File:Autostrada București-Ploiești (km 49).JPG|thumb|left|The [[A3 motorway (Romania)|A3 motorway]] links Ploiești with Bucharest, {{cvt|60|km|0}} to the south.]]
[[File:Ploiesti (9).jpg|thumb|upright|The City hall, formerly the headquarters of [[Petrom]], a Romanian oil company and the largest corporation in the country]]

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Ploiești experienced rapid economic loss. The city is situated at just {{cvt|60|km|0}} north of [[Bucharest]], with promising infrastructure projects currently underway. It is a strong industrial center, focused especially on the oil production and refining industry. Although oil production in the region is declining steadily, there is still a thriving processing industry with four operating [[oil refining|oil refineries]], linked by [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]]s to [[Bucharest]], the [[Black Sea]] port of [[Constanța]] and the [[Danube]] port of [[Giurgiu]]. Ploiești also has a long history as a textile manufacturing center.

The city has become a hub of foreign investment. Companies such as [[OMV]]-[[Petrom]], [[Lukoil]], [[Shell Gas]], [[Timken Company|Timken]], [[Yazaki]], [[Coca-Cola]], [[Efes Pilsener]], [[British American Tobacco]], [[Federal-Mogul]], and [[Interbrew]] have operations there, and retailers like [[Carrefour]], [[Metro Cash and Carry|Metro]], [[Selgros]], [[Kaufland]], [[Billa (supermarket)|Billa]], [[Bricostore]], [[Lidl]], [[Obi (store)|Obi]], [[Auchan]], [[Profi]], and [[Mega Image]] have found in Ploiești a continuously growing market, but the pay rate for employees is lower than expected. There are four [[McDonald's]] restaurants in Ploiești and three [[KFC]]s.

The German retailer [[Tengelmann (retailer)|Tengelmann]] built a depot in Ploiești to support a €200&nbsp;million regional expansion plan. With its Interex ([[:ro:Interex|ro]]) operation, the French independent retailer [[Intermarché]] intends to become a distribution leader in the Balkans. In Romania the first Interex store was opened in June 2002 in Ploiești. The Interex depot and facilities were bought by [[Penny Market XXL]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Adevarul.ro |title=Penny Market XXL, pe locul fostului magazin Interex Ploiești |url=http://adevarul.ro/locale/ploiesti/hypermarket-penny-market-xxl-locul-fostului-magazin-interex-ploiesti-1_530a24a9c7b855ff569890f0/index.html |access-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408221339/http://adevarul.ro/locale/ploiesti/hypermarket-penny-market-xxl-locul-fostului-magazin-interex-ploiesti-1_530a24a9c7b855ff569890f0/index.html |archive-date=2014-04-08 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Unilever]] has a detergent plant in Ploiești. By transferring their food production to Ploiești, the company will concentrate all its activities in Romania at the same location. At the beginning of March 2006, [[Unilever]] announced they would invest money to build one production center in Romania, and the construction of the new food plant is part of this plan.<ref>[[Bucharest Business Week]], [http://www.bbw.ro/articol_47261/unilever_builds_factory_in_ploiesti.html Unilever builds factory in Ploiești] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110021134/http://www.bbw.ro/articol_47261/unilever_builds_factory_in_ploiesti.html |date=2009-01-10 }}, March 10, 2006</ref>

In 1950, as a milestone in the development of the petroleum, [[hydrocarbon|hydrocarbon processing]], and [[petrochemical|petrochemical industries]], the Engineering and Design Institute for [[oil refinery|Oil Refineries]] and [[petrochemical|Petrochemical Plants]], [[IPIP SA|SC IPIP SA]], a Romanian company with a large range of capabilities and experience, was established at Ploiești.

In Ploiești there are four local television channels: Ploiești TV, Valea Prahovei TV, Wyll TV and Prahova TV.

==Transportation==
[[File:Ploiesti Solaris trolleybus 5933 in 2021.jpg|thumb|left|A [[trolleybus]] in Ploiești in 2021]]
Ploiești is situated on the [[A3 motorway (Romania)|A3 motorway]],<ref>'A3 Motorway Bucharest-Bors', retvd 4 12 14; http://130km.ro/a3_en.html {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140655/http://130km.ro/a3_en.html |date=2014-04-13 }}</ref> the main route to Romania's northern and western provinces and the Western EU. [[Henri Coandă International Airport]] is {{cvt|45|km|0}} distant, and the ski [[resorts]] of the [[Prahova Valley]] can be reached in an hour's drive. Ploiești is the second most important railway center in the country after [[Bucharest]], linking Bucharest with [[Transylvania]] and [[Moldavia]].

The city's public transportation system is run by [[Transport Călători Express Ploiești|TCE Ploiești]] and includes an extensive network of buses, [[trolleybus]]es and trams/[[streetcar]]s. Ploiești's distinctive yellow bus fleet is one of the most modern in Southeastern Europe, providing connections to all areas within the city, for a daily average of 150,000 passengers. The municipal roads comprise over 800 streets with a total length of {{cvt|324|km}}, {{cvt|241|km}} being modern. Around 5,300 vehicles transit Ploiești each day, with East and West ring belts diverting much traffic. The municipal vehicle fleet comprised 256 buses, 36 trams and 25 trolleybuses carrying about 70 millions passengers annually. There are 33 bus lines, with a total length of {{cvt|415.46|km|2}}; two trolley-bus lines having a total length of {{cvt|19.9|km|1}} and two tram lines having a total length of {{cvt|23.8|km|1}}. {{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

==Culture==
[[File:RO PH Ploiesti Palace of Culture.jpg|thumb|Palace of Culture]]
Ploiești is home to the [[Ploiești Philharmonic Orchestra]]—one of the top-rated philharmonic orchestras in Romania, a prominent [[association football|football club]], [[FC Petrolul Ploiești]], [[handball|women handball club]] [[CSM Ploiești (women's handball)|CSM Ploiești]] from [[Liga Națională (Handbal Feminin)|Liga Națională]] and [[basketball|basketball team]] [[CSU Asesoft]].

There are many cultural and architectural monuments, including the Cultural Palace; the Clock Museum, featuring a collection of clocks and watches gathered by Nicolae Simache; the Oil Museum; the [[Ploiești Art Museum]], donated by the Quintus family; and the Hagi Prodan Museum, dating to 1785: the property of a merchant named Ivan Hagi Prodan, it contains elements of old Romanian architecture and for a short time after [[World War I]] it hosted the first museum in Ploiești, "Prahova Museum".
In August 2011, Ploiești hosted the Golden Carpathian European Film & Fair and [[Goran Bregovic]] concert. A number of Ploiesti's most notable buildings, including the central market, were designed by [[Toma T. Socolescu]], who was born in the city and later became its mayor. Many of Socolescu's designs were destroyed by Allied bombing in World War II, and during the Ceaucescu regime, due to [[systematization]] policies and his refusal to join the Communist party.

Several prominent writers have been affiliated with the city, including [[Ion Luca Caragiale]], [[Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea]], [[Ioan A. Bassarabescu]], [[Nichita Stănescu]], [[Geo Bogza]], [[Radu Tudoran]], composer [[Paul Constantinescu]] and philosopher [[Petre P. Negulescu]]. Three graduates of the "Sfinții Petru și Pavel" High school were presidents of the Romanian Academy: [[Andrei Rădulescu]], [[Mihai Drăgănescu]] and [[Eugen Simion]].

==Education==
The first school in Ploiești was opened in 1777 and by 1832 several other elementary schools are opened. Secondary education is first offered in 1864.

Ploiești is home to the following universities and colleges: 
*[[Oil & Gas University of Ploiești|Oil & Gas University]], founded in 1948<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.upg-ploiesti.ro/ |title=www.upg-ploiesti.ro/ |access-date=2020-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118100504/https://www.upg-ploiesti.ro/ |archive-date=2020-01-18 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*George Barițiu University, founded in 2002<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.universitateagbaritiu.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=385 |title=www.universitateagbaritiu.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=385 |access-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409002411/http://www.universitateagbaritiu.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=385 |archive-date=2014-04-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Important secondary schools in Ploiești are:
*{{ill|Mihai Viteazul National College (Ploiești)|lt=Mihai Viteazul National College|ro|Colegiul Național „Mihai Viteazul" din Ploiești}}
*[[Ion Luca Caragiale National College (Ploiești)|Ion Luca Caragiale National College]]
*[[Jean Monnet National College]]
*[[Alexandru Ioan Cuza National College (Ploiești)|Alexandru Ioan Cuza National College]]
*[[Nichita Stănescu National College]]
*Virgil Madgearu Economic College 
*Spiru Haret High School
*Lazăr Edeleanu Technical College
*{{ill|Carmen Sylva Art High School|ro|Liceul de Artă „Carmen Sylva" din Ploiești}}
*Constantin Brâncoveanu Military School
*Toma N. Socolescu High School
*Victor Slăvescu Technologic, Administration and Service High School

==Geology==
The Mio-[[Pliocene]] Zone in the Ploiești region has been exploited for [[hydrocarbon]]s and coal since the 19th century.<ref>Paraschiv, P., and Olteau, G., Oil Fields of Ploiești District, Romania, in Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, AAPG Memoir 14, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1970, p. 401.</ref> The zone extends from the [[flysch]] on the north to the [[Moesian Platform]] on the south.<ref>Paraschiv, P., and Olteau, G., Oil Fields of Ploiești District, Romania, in Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, AAPG Memoir 14, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1970, p. 399.</ref> The zone is marked by alternating deposits of [[clay]], [[marl]], [[shale]] and [[sand]], [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], salt and [[limestone]].<ref name="Paraschiv, P. 1970, p. 425">Paraschiv, P., and Olteau, G., Oil Fields of Ploiești District, Romania, in Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, AAPG Memoir 14, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1970, p. 425.</ref> [[Structural trap]]s and [[stratigraphic trap]]s are formed from salt [[diapirism]] which gave rise to [[anticline]] folds and faulting.<ref name="Paraschiv, P. 1970, p. 425"/> There are four major alignments of the anticlines, all parallel to the Carpathian Range.<ref name="Paraschiv, P. 1970, p. 425"/> Pliocene sands are the main oil and gas producers, in particular the Meotian (60%) and Dacian (29%), followed by the [[Miocene]] Sarmatian (5%) but some oil exists in Miocene Helvetian and [[Oligocene]] sandstones.<ref>Paraschiv, P., and Olteau, G., Oil Fields of Ploiești District, Romania, in Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, AAPG Memoir 14, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1970, p. 415.</ref> Major producing structures include Moreni-Gura Ocniței, Băicoi-Țintea and Boldești.<ref name="Paraschiv, P. 1970, p. 425"/>
<gallery>
File:Carpathian Basin 3.jpg|Stratigraphic column of Eastern Carpathians and Moesian Platform<ref>Pawlewicz, M., Total Petroleum Systems of the Carpathian-Balkanian Basin Province of Romania and Bulgaria, US Dept. Interior USGS Bulletin 2204-F, 2007, p. 9</ref>
File:Carpathian Basin 2.jpg|Cross Section of Carpathian Bend<ref>Pawlewicz, M., Total Petroleum Systems of the Carpathian-Balkanian Basin Province of Romania and Bulgaria, US Dept. Interior USGS Bulletin 2204-F, 2007, p. 6</ref>
File:Carpathian Basin.jpg|Geologic features of the Carpathians<ref>Pawlewicz, M., Total Petroleum Systems of the Carpathian-Balkanian Basin Province of Romania and Bulgaria, US Dept. Interior USGS Bulletin 2204-F, 2007, p. 5</ref>
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[File:Teleajen River.JPG|thumb|Teleajen River in [[Prahova County]]]]
[[File:Aerial photograph of Ploiești from the west 02.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of Ploiești from the west, 2025]]

Ploiești lies in the center of [[Muntenia]], in the central-northern part of the [[Wallachian Plain]]. It lies close to the capital city Bucharest and it had close connections with the capital city throughout the centuries. Ploiești lies at the 25°E meridian and the 44°55’N parallel (north). The city occupies a total surface of around {{cvt|60|km2}}, out of which {{cvt|35|km2}} is suburban settlements. There exist two rivers in the proximity of the city: the [[Prahova (river)|Prahova River]], on the south-west, briefly passes through the city through the [[Brazi]] settlement and the [[Teleajen|Teleajen River]] passes through the [[Blejoi]], [[Bucov]], [[Berceni, Prahova|Berceni]] villages. The city lies on [[Dâmbu (river)|Dâmbu River]], which springs from the hills around the [[Băicoi]] town. Nowadays the Dâmbu River does not have a high flow rate.

===Nearest towns===
{|class="wikitable" 
! rowspan=2 valign=top |Town 
! rowspan=2 valign=top align=right|Direction 
! colspan=3 |Distance
|-
! straight-line distance
! road distance
! rail distance
|-
| [[Bucharest]] ||S ||56&nbsp;km ||60&nbsp;km ||59&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Brăila]] ||E ||155&nbsp;km ||170&nbsp;km ||176&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Pitești]] ||W ||91&nbsp;km ||111&nbsp;km ||149&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Brașov]] ||NW ||86&nbsp;km ||114&nbsp;km ||110&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Târgoviște]] ||V ||46&nbsp;km ||51&nbsp;km ||52&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Buzău]] ||NE ||66&nbsp;km ||71&nbsp;km ||69&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Urziceni]] ||SE ||55&nbsp;km ||60&nbsp;km ||55&nbsp;km
|}

===Climate===
The climate is similar to that of the nation's capital, [[Bucharest]]. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the city falls within the temperate [[humid continental climate]] (Dfa) of the hot summer type. The average annual temperature is {{cvt|10.5|°C}}, with record minimum registered on 25 January 1952 of {{cvt|-30|°C}} while record maximum was registered on 19 July 2007 of {{cvt|43|°C}}. On average, around 17 days are very cold, 26 cold, 99 warm and 30 tropical, while the rest have a moderate temperature.

Average annual precipitations are {{cvt|600|mm}}; {{cvt|30–40|mm}} in January and {{cvt|88|mm}} in June. Precipitations range between {{cvt|963.9|mm}} registered in 1901 and {{cvt|305.3|mm}} registered in 1930. Throughout the year, there are on average 104 days with rain, 26 with snow, 112 with clear skies, 131 with clouds and 122 with no sunshine. The climate of Ploiești is influenced by the winds coming from north-east (40%) and south-east (23%), having an average speed of {{cvt|3.1|m/s}}. On average, there are 11 days throughout the year with wind speed exceeding {{cvt|11|m/s}} and only two days characterised by winds over {{cvt|16|m/s}}. Atmospheric pressure is {{cvt|748.2|mm}}.
{{Weather box
|location=Ploiești
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|Jan high C=1
|Feb high C=4
|Mar high C=10
|Apr high C=18
|May high C=23
|Jun high C=27
|Jul high C=28
|Aug high C=28
|Sep high C=24
|Oct high C=18
|Nov high C=10
|Dec high C=3
|year high C=16.2
|Jan low C=-6
|Feb low C=-3
|Mar low C=0
|Apr low C=6
|May low C=10
|Jun low C=14
|Jul low C=16
|Aug low C=15
|Sep low C=11
|Oct low C=6
|Nov low C=1
|Dec low C=-3
|year low C=5.6
|Jan precipitation mm=40.6
|Feb precipitation mm=35.6
|Mar precipitation mm=38.1
|Apr precipitation mm=45.7
|May precipitation mm=71.1
|Jun precipitation mm=76.2
|Jul precipitation mm=63.5
|Aug precipitation mm=58.4
|Sep precipitation mm=43.2
|Oct precipitation mm=33
|Nov precipitation mm=48.3
|Dec precipitation mm=43.2
|year precipitation mm=596.9
|source 1=[[Weather Channel]]
|date=August 2010
}}

===Landscape and flora===

The city lies on the [[Wallachian Plain]], having an average altitude of {{cvt|150|m}}. The surrounding landscape is influenced by its position around the Prahova River, whose stream bed lies {{cvt|25|km}} to the west. The [[Teleajen|Teleajen River]] passes through the city while the [[Dâmbu (river)|Dâmbu River]] passes through the north-eastern neighbourhoods.

The vegetation of Ploiești used to be characterised by a plain forest, made up predominantly of pedunculate oak trees (''[[Quercus robur]]''). Other varieties of oak trees such as the sessile oak (''[[Quercus petraea]]'') also existed. Remnants of the old forest still exist and some trees are currently protected, such as two old oak trees in [[Bărcănești, Prahova|Ghighiu]], on the southern periphery of the city.

In current times the vegetation is typical of urban settlements, made up of ornamental plants, plantations of [[chestnut]]s, [[Populus tremula|aspen]] and [[black locust]]. Parks and other green areas are limited: the main boulevard area, the park next to the Sala Sporturilor, the park from the northern part of the city, the "Mihai Viteazul" park and another park next to the Bucov barrier. These occupy only around {{cvt|85.5|ha}}, resulting in {{cvt|3.2|m2}} of green space per inhabitant.
[[File:Arteziana-ceas-1.jpg|thumb|Central park]]

Around the city one can also observe several endangered trees, which are protected by law. These include the giant redwood (''[[Sequoiadendron giganteum]]'') from the garden of the "Paul Constantinescu" museum. There also exist trees that have adapted to the local climate, such as [[Common fig|figs]]. In some neighbourhoods more fruit trees and flowers are currently being planted.

==Politics==

The Ploiești Town Council, elected in the [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020 local elections]], is made up of 27 councillors, with the following party composition:
{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
! style="background:#ccc" |Party
! style="background:#ccc" |Seats
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="13" |Current Council
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}
| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL)
|style="text-align: right" |'''13'''
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|USR PLUS}}
| [[Save Romania Union]] (USR)
|style="text-align: right" |'''4'''
| {{party color cell|USR PLUS}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|USR PLUS}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|USR PLUS}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|USR PLUS}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|PRO Romania}}
| [[PRO Romania Party]] (PRO Romania)
|style="text-align: right" |'''3'''
| {{party color cell|PRO Romania}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|PRO Romania}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|PRO Romania}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}
|Prahova in Action Party ({{langx|ro|Partidul Prahova În Acțiune}})
|style="text-align: right" |'''2'''
| {{party color cell|Independent}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Independent}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)}}
|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE)
|style="text-align: right" |'''2'''
| {{party color cell|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}
| [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD)
|style="text-align: right" |'''2'''
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}
| [[Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party]] (Plus)
|style="text-align: right" |'''1'''
| {{party color cell|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}} &nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
|}

There exist approximatively 88,104 flats that are located in 21,172 buildings. 93% of the households have access to clean water, 90% have access to the sewage network, 98% have access to electricity and 78% are connected to the district heating system.

===Metropolitan area===
[[File:Ploiesti Metropolitan Area 2009.jpg|thumb|300px|Ploiești metropolitan area]]
{{Main|Ploiești metropolitan area}}

The metropolitan area of Ploiești comprises 13 satellite towns. The area will become an important transit for two Pan-European motorway and rail corridors. The central administration of the area will coordinate the communication and transport networks, technological development and the reduction of the carbon footprint.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Romania}}
Ploiești is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipiul Ploiești (Menu)=> Orașe înfrățite |url=http://www.ploiesti.ro/ |website=ploiesti.ro |publisher=Ploiești |language=ro |access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*{{flagicon|ALB}} [[Berat]], Albania
<!--Dnipro - twinning ended-->
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Harbin]], China
*{{flagicon|MDA}} [[Hîncești]], Moldova
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Lefkada (city)|Lefkada]], Greece
*{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Maracaibo]], Venezuela
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Marousi]], Greece
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Oral, Kazakhstan|Oral]], Kazakhstan
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Osijek]], Croatia
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Radom]], Poland
{{div col end}}

==Natives==
{{For|a list of notable people from Ploiești|Category:People from Ploiești}}
*Academia: [[Liviu Librescu]], [[Cristian Pârvulescu]], [[Nicolae Simache]]
*Architecture: [[Toma T. Socolescu]]
*Arts, Theater, and Film: [[Geta Brătescu]], [[Fory Etterle]], [[Christian Magdu]], [[Gabriel Popa (painter)]], [[Ruxandra Popa (model)]], [[Stefan Ramniceanu]], {{ill|Denis Ștefan|ro}}, [[Traian Trestioreanu]]
*Literature: [[Paul Constantinescu]], [[Lazăr Șăineanu]], [[Nichita Stănescu]] 
*Military: [[Ilie Crețulescu]], [[Constantin Stoicescu]], [[Ioannis Velissariou]]
*Music: [[Andreea Bălan]], [[Sonny Flame]], [[Ionel Gherea]], [[Wanlov the Kubolor]], [[Nico (Romanian singer)|Nico]], [[George Nicolescu]], [[Florin Cezar Ouatu]], [[Edgar Bischoff]], [[Tzancă Uraganu]]
*Politics: [[Roberta Anastase]], [[Petre Bejan]], [[Mircea Coșea]], [[Alexandru Dobrogeanu-Gherea]], [[Ștefan Gheorghiu (trade unionist)]], [[Take Ionescu]], [[Corneliu Mănescu]], [[Istrate Micescu]], [[Petre P. Negulescu]], [[Remus Opriș]], [[Dan Ioan Popescu]], [[Sever Voinescu]]
*Science: [[Mihai Ioan Botez]], {{ill|Sorin Dăscălescu|ro}}, [[Roxana Geambasu]], [[Basarab Nicolescu]], [[Ion N. Petrovici]]
*Sports: [[Octavian Belu]], [[Tamara Costache]], [[Alexandru Dedu]], [[Adrian Diaconu]], [[Leonard Doroftei]], [[Laurențiu Toma]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sinagoga ploesti 1901.jpg|Synagogue
File:Școala de Arte și Meserii, Str. Văleni nr. 32, Ploiești.JPG|School of Arts and Crafts
File:RO PH Ploiesti St George belfry 1.jpg|St. George belfry
File:Ploiesti-Catedrala-5.JPG|St. John the Baptist Cathedral
File:Muzeul Județean de Istorie și Arheologie, Ploiești (2).JPG|Museum of History and Archaeology
File:Casa Luca Elefterescu, azi Muzeul Ceasului "Nicolae Simache" (2).JPG|Nicolae Simache Clock Museum
File:Halele Centrale și statuia lui Toma T. Socolescu.JPG|Central Market Hall
File:Biserica "Sfinții Voievozi", Str. Ștefan cel Mare nr. 23, Ploiești (3).JPG|Holy Voivodes Church
File:PLOIESTI 1994.jpg|The city's western housing estate, as seen in 1994
File:Ploiesti (35).jpg|Ploiești Administrative Palace
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Petrochemical industry in Romania]]

==Notes and references==
:{{note|1|1}} Sources provide differing estimates regarding Romanian production:
:*1942: ''The Axis Oil Position in Europe, November 1942'' by the Hartley Committee estimated that "Romanian oil fields" contributed 33% of Axis supplies.<ref name=CasablancaPapersMinutes>{{cite book |last=US Secretary |date=January 1943 |title=Casablanca Conference: Papers and Minutes of Meetings |location=Dwight D. [[Eisenhower Presidential Library]]; COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF: Conference proceedings, 1941–1945; Box 1 |pages=40–43,88,256 |publisher=Office of the Combined Chiefs of Staff |quote=Brehon Somervell[inside front cover] … DECLASSIFIED … 10/29/73 … U.S. SECRET … BRITISH MOST SECRET … COPY NO. 32[inside back cover]}}</ref>
:*1944: "''Ploiești, thirty-five miles ({{cvt|35|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}}) from Bucharest, supplied one-third of all the oil fuel Germany required for war purposes.''"<ref name=Turner>{{cite book |last=Turner |first=S.J., F. R. G. S – maps |author-link=FRGS |year=1944 |title=Vol. 2 [September 3, 1941 – August 15, 1943] |pages=519–1020 [986] |work=Pictorial History of the Second World War |publisher=Wm. H. Wise & Co., Inc.}}</ref>
:*1999: The fragile, concentrated Bucharest facilities provided "60% of Germany's crude oil supply"<ref name=Modrovsky>{{cite book |last=Modrovsky |first=Robert J. |date=April 1999 |title=1 August 1943 – Today's Target is Ploesti: A Departure from Doctrine |pages=4}}</ref>
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ploiesti.ro/en_index.php Website of the town hall of Ploiești] {{in lang|en|ro}}
*[http://www.republicaploiesti.net/ RepublicaPloiești.net] {{in lang|ro}} is a site specializing in architectural history of the City of Ploiești. It contains numerous photographs of the city taken between the beginning of the twentieth and 1945.
*[http://public-transport.net/bim/Ploieşti.htm Tramway in Ploiești] {{Dead link|date=May 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.openmap.ro/index.php?lat=44.9403&lon=26.0253&zoom=13&layers=0B00FTTTTTFFT Map of Ploiești with route planning, points of interest, public transport] {{in lang|ro}}
{{Commons category|position=left|Ploiești}}

{{Prahova County}}
{{Cities in Romania}}
{{RoJudCapitals}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ploiesti}}
[[Category:Ploiești| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Romania]]
[[Category:Capitals of Romanian counties]]
[[Category:Populated places in Prahova County]]
[[Category:Localities in Muntenia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1596]]
[[Category:1596 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Oil campaign of World War II]]
[[Category:16th-century establishments in Wallachia]]