Fărău (German: Brenndorf; Hungarian: Magyarforró) is a commune located in northeastern part of Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Fărău, Heria (Hari), Medveș (Nagymedvés), Sânbenedic (Magyarszentbenedek) and Șilea (Magyarsülye).

Fărău
Magyarforró
View of Șilea
View of Șilea
Coat of arms of Fărău
Location in Alba County
Location in Alba County
Fărău is located in Romania
Fărău
Fărău
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 46°20′29″N 24°00′21″E / 46.34139°N 24.00583°E / 46.34139; 24.00583
CountryRomania
CountyAlba
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Ioan Stoia (PNL)
Area
81.48 km2 (31.46 sq mi)
Elevation
404 m (1,325 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[1]
1,303
 • Density16/km2 (41/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
517280
Area code(+40) 02 58
Vehicle reg.AB
Websitewww.primariafarau.ro

The commune is situated on the Transylvanian Plateau, on the border with Mureș County, at a distance of 58 km (36 mi) from the county seat, Alba Iulia. It lies at the divide between the Mureș River and Târnava Mică River valleys. The Fărău river, a left tributary of the Mureș, flows through the commune.

Fărău borders to the east and northeast Bichiș commune, to the southeast Jidvei commune, to the south and southwest Șona commune, to the west Hopârta commune, and to the north and northwest Noșlac commune.[2]

According to the census from 2011 there was a total population of 1,569 people living in this commune, of which 69.66% were ethnic Romanians, 22.18% ethnic Hungarians, and 4.4% ethnic Romani. At the 2021 census, Fărău had a population of 1,303, of which 78.59% were Romanians and 11.59% Hungarians.

There are several wooden churches in the commune, including:

  • The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel Church [ro] in Fărău village, built in 1762.
  • The Saint Nicholas Church in Sânbenedic village, built in the 18th century.
  • The Holy Archangels Church in Sânbenedic village, built in 1775.
  • The Saint Nicholas Church in Șilea village, built in the 18th century.
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1750 516—    
1766 531+2.9%
1831 1,016+91.3%
1854 1,019+0.3%
1854 1,019+0.0%
1857 930−8.7%
1900 1,119+20.3%
1910 1,124+0.4%
1920 1,075−4.4%
1930 1,239+15.3%
2002 1,909+54.1%
2011 1,569−17.8%
2021 1,303−17.0%
Source: Census data[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  2. ^ "Comuna Fărău: Presezentarea Generală". www.primariafarau.ro (in Romanian). Fărău townhall. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Fărău, repere istorice și culturale". www.primariafarau.ro (in Romanian). Fărău townhall. Retrieved August 15, 2021.