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{{other uses}}
{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type                   = commune
|county                 = Călărași
|population_total       = auto
|map_caption            = Location in Călărași County
|image_skyline          = 
|image_caption          =
|image_shield           = ROU CL Borcea CoA.jpg
|image_map              = Borcea jud Calarasi.png
|established_date       = 1501 (first official record as ''Tamburești'')
|leader_name            = Theodor Aniel Nedelcu<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=8 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party           = PNL
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2024
|area_total_km2         = 385.82
|elevation_min_m        = 9
|elevation_max_m        = 22
|coordinates            = {{coord|44|20|00|N|27|45|25|E|region:RO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code            = 917015
|area_code 	            = +40 x42
|website                = {{url|http://www.primariaborcea.ro}}
}}

'''Borcea''' is a [[communes of Romania|commune]] situated in the eastern part of [[Călărași County]], [[Muntenia]], [[Romania]]. It is one of the most populous communes in the county and it is situated on the west bank of the Borcea branch (a section of the [[Danube]]). The commune was formed  as a result of the administrative reform of 1968 by joining two neighboring villages, Cocargeaua and Pietroiu. Today, it is composed of two villages, Borcea and Pietroiu.

The commune is home to the [[Romanian Air Force]] [[RoAF 86th Air Base|86th Air Base]].

==History==

=== Antiquity ===
The oldest archaeological findings in Borcea date from III-IV BC and consist of ancient [[pottery]], [[Ancient Macedonians|Macedonian]] [[amphora]]e and a silver [[Ancient drachma|drachma]] issued by the ancient city of [[Histria (ancient city)|Histria]]. The presence of numerous archaeological evidence in Borcea which originated from the Greek colonies in [[Dobruja]] lead to the conclusion that between [[Getae|Getic]] settlements that were strung along the Borcea branch and the [[Greek colonies]] there were cultural and economic exchanges.
This layer of archaeological findings (III-IV B.C.) is covered by a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] layer (II – IV A.D.) of pottery and other materials.

=== Middle Ages ===
The next archaeological layer (IX- XII A.D.) consists of evidence of [[Middle Ages|medieval]] culture (coins and pottery). Because of the loss of many documents that relate to the beginning of medieval Romania, the first time Borcea is mentioned in an official document takes place only at the beginning of sec. XVI. On 15 December 1501, Prince [[Radu IV the Great]] of [[Wallachia]] issued a [[charter]] that confirmed that the property of Nucet Monastery extends from Săltava pond to the Tâmburești (now Borcea) village. Later, another charter from the time of Prince [[Vlad VI Înecatul|Vlad VI]] of Wallachia, dated 6 July 1530, confirmed the possession of "the long creek of Tâmburești". On 18 November 1614, the entire Tâmburești village and the nearby land became  the property of [[Plumbuita Monastery]], following a decree of Prince [[Radu Mihnea]] of Wallachia. From 1614 to 1863 Tâmburești was administered by the abbot of Plumbuita Monastery. The peasants lost ownership of their lands.

=== Late modern and contemporary ===
In 1863 as a result of the [[secularization of monastic estates in Romania]] and the Agrarian Law imposed by [[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]], the monastery lost ownership of Tâmburești and the peasants regained possession of their lands. This reform also led to Tâmburești being completely separated in two neighboring villages: Pietroiu and Cocargeaua.

During the early years of the [[Socialist Republic of Romania|communist regime]] in Romania (1949–1962), Borcea (Pietroiu and Cocargeaua) went through a process of [[Collectivization in Romani|collectivization of agriculture]]. Personal property (lands, agricultural machinery, etc.) was confiscated by the communist state and two I.A.S. (State Agricultural Institution) were formed: I.A.S. Pietroiu and I.A.S. Borcea. These state administered institutions were basically [[collective farming]] units. In the assessment of historian Stan Stoica, collectivization seriously harmed the Romanian village: he cites the loss of "independence, dignity and identity" by the peasants; a decline in the rural population that accelerated when young people migrated to the cities (forced industrialization was going on at the same time); and the fact that families were "wrecked" by poverty, while interest in work plummeted. Another administrative reform came on 17 February 1968;<ref>[http://ro.wikisource.org/wiki/Legea_nr._2/1968,_republicat%C4%83_%C3%AEn_1981/Anexa_1_-_Jude%C8%9Bul_C%C4%83l%C4%83ra%C8%99i Law no. 2/1968 Annex 1]</ref> this reform merged Pietroiu and Cocargeaua back together into a single commune that was called Borcea after the "Borcea branch" of the [[Danube]]. From 1968 to 1981, Borcea commune was part of [[Ialomița County]]. As a result of the State Council Decree no. 15 of 23 January 1981 Borcea was included in the newly formed [[Călărași County]].

== Geography ==

=== Topography ===
Borcea is located in the south-eastern part of Romania, on the west side of the Borcea branch of the Danube, approximately {{cvt|35|km}} north of the [[Bulgaria–Romania border|Bulgarian border]] and {{cvt|75|km}} west of the [[Black Sea]]. Its [[geographical coordinates]] are 44° 20' north latitude and 27° 45' east longitude. Because Borcea is situated on the east side of the vast [[Wallachian Plain]], more precisely, in the subdivision [[Bărăgan Plain|Bărăgan]] of the Ialomița Plain, it has a flat topography with a minimum elevation of {{cvt|9|m}} in the flood plain of the Borcea branch and maximum elevation of {{cvt|47|m}} in the northwestern part of the commune. The arable land administered by the commune extends on either side of the Borcea branch with most of the farmland on the west side.
Occupying an habitable area of {{cvt|5.35|km2}}, the nearest city, [[Fetești]], is situated just {{cvt|5|km}} to the north. The Wallachian Plain was formed at the end of the Cenozoic−Quaternary period by intense sedimentation of the Sarmatian Sea and the gradually withdrawal of the water from north to south and from west to east. This process formed [[loess]] as deep as {{cvt|40|m}} below the Borcea commune. As a result, the soil in the surrounding region is very fertile because of the high humus content. This soil is called [[chernozem]].

===Climate===
According to [[Köppen climate classification]] system Borcea has a [[humid continental climate]] typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. The average annual temperature is 11.2&nbsp;°C, in July the average temperature fluctuates around 23&nbsp;°C, and in January there is an average of −3&nbsp;°C. The lowest temperature recorded in the area dates from 8 January 1938 when there was −30&nbsp;°C, and the highest of 41.4&nbsp;°C on 10 August 10, 1951. The Borcea commune enjoys a high calorie potential, whose value reached 125 kcal/cm2.

Borcea sits at the influence of the [[crivăț]] wind, a cold continental wind which blows in the winter from north east creating blizzard conditions, a hot and humid wind called "Băltărețul" from the south, and the [[Westerlies]].

The continental climate is emphasized by the annual amounts of precipitation falling on the commune and its surroundings. Thus, average annual precipitation is only 500&nbsp;mm, due to the influence exercised by ascending currents that arose on nearby lake surfaces and the Borcea branch. Annual maximum is recorded in May–June and a minimum in July–August, during which the sky is mostly clear and brief periods of drought may occur.
 
{{Weather box
|location = Borcea
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
<!-- Record high temperatures -->
|Jan record high C=16
|Feb record high C=20
|Mar record high C=27
|Apr record high C=30
|May record high C=34
|Jun record high C=37
|Jul record high C=39
|Aug record high C=38
|Sep record high C=35
|Oct record high C=33
|Nov record high C=25
|Dec record high C=18
|year record high C=39
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
|Jan high C = 2
|Feb high C = 3
|Mar high C = 10
|Apr high C = 16
|May high C = 22
|Jun high C = 26
|Jul high C = 27
|Aug high C = 27
|Sep high C = 24
|Oct high C = 17
|Nov high C = 8
|Dec high C = 4
|year high C = 16
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C= ---
|Feb mean C=1
|Mar mean C=6
|Apr mean C=11
|May mean C=17
|Jun mean C=20
|Jul mean C=22
|Aug mean C=21
|Sep mean C=18
|Oct mean C=12
|Nov mean C=5
|Dec mean C=1
|year mean C=11 
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
|Jan low C = -3
|Feb low C = -2
|Mar low C = 1
|Apr low C = 6
|May low C = 11
|Jun low C = 15
|Jul low C = 16
|Aug low C = 15
|Sep low C = 12
|Oct low C = 6
|Nov low C = 1
|Dec low C = -1
|year low C = 6.5
<!-- Record low temperatures -->
|Jan record low C=-24
|Feb record low C=-18
|Mar record low C=-16
|Apr record low C=-2
|May record low C= ---
|Jun record low C=7
|Jul record low C=11
|Aug record low C=8
|Sep record low C=-1
|Oct record low C=-6
|Nov record low C=-12
|Dec record low C=-17
|year record low C=-24
<!-- Average daily % humidity -->
|Jan humidity=80
|Feb humidity=74
|Mar humidity=63
|Apr humidity=55
|May humidity=53
|Jun humidity=52
|Jul humidity=51
|Aug humidity=48
|Sep humidity=48
|Oct humidity=58
|Nov humidity=76
|Dec humidity=84
|year humidity=62
<!-- Average number of precipitation days -->
|Jan precipitation days=10
|Feb precipitation days=10
|Mar precipitation days=8
|Apr precipitation days=8
|May precipitation days=8
|Jun precipitation days=8
|Jul precipitation days=5
|Aug precipitation days=5
|Sep precipitation days=5
|Oct precipitation days=6
|Nov precipitation days=9
|Dec precipitation days=9
|year precipitation days=91
<!-- Average number of rainy days -->
|Jan rain days=4  
|Feb rain days=5
|Mar rain days=6
|Apr rain days=8
|May rain days=8
|Jun rain days=8
|Jul rain days=5
|Aug rain days=5
|Sep rain days=5
|Oct rain days=6
|Nov rain days=7
|Dec rain days=6
|year rain days=73
<!-- Average number of snowy days -->
|Jan snow days=7
|Feb snow days=6
|Mar snow days=3
|Apr snow days=---
|May snow days=---
|Jun snow days=---
|Jul snow days=---
|Aug snow days=---
|Sep snow days=---
|Oct snow days=---
|Nov snow days=2
|Dec snow days=4
|year snow days=22 
|source 1 = weatherbase.com<ref name=weatherbase >{{cite web
|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=6451&refer=&units=metric
|title=Weatherbase data Borcea |publisher= |language=}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

== Law and government ==

=== Administration ===
The commune is governed by a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] system. In Borcea, the central government is responsible for public education, libraries, public safety, recreational facilities, sanitation, water supply and welfare services. The mayor and councillors are elected to four-year terms. Decisions are approved and discussed by the [[Local government|local council]] (consiliu local) made up of 14 elected Councillors.

In [[Romania]] the [[two round system]] is used to elect the Mayors. The number of votes needed to win in the first round is calculated using the local electoral list. To elect the Local Councils, the [[party list proportional representation|closed party list]] [[proportional representation]] is used, with a 5% [[Election threshold|threshold]] of the votes at the constituency level.

From 2004, the mayor office was held by Marcel Zăgărin who was re-elected in 2008. The last local elections took place in 2008 on June 1 (first round) and June 15 (second round). In the first round Marcel Zăgărin ([[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]]) was leading with 46.43% of the votes closely followed by Zaharia Costică ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]) with 38.30%. In the third place was Cristian Burlacu Ion ([[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]) with 5.62% and in the fourth Crinel Din ([[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PD-L]]) with 5.52%.<ref name="First Round, Elections for Mayor of Borcea, 2008">{{cite web | url=http://www.alegeri.tv/alegeri-locale-2008/borcea | title=First Round, Elections for Mayor of Borcea, 2008 | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref> On 15 June 2008, the current mayor won the elections round with 53.62% of the votes to 46.37% for his closest opponent and former mayor of Borcea, Zaharia Costică.<ref name="Second Round, Elections for Mayor of Borcea, 2008">{{cite web | url=http://www.alegeri.tv/alegeri-locale-2008-turul-2/borcea | title=Second Round, Elections for Mayor of Borcea, 2008 | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

=== Central government ===

Borcea is part of Călărași County's 2nd electoral district of the [[Chamber of Deputies of Romania|Chamber of Deputies]], which is currently represented by Ioan Damian ([[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]).<ref name="Alegeri Parlamentare 2008 - comuna Borcea">{{cite web | url=http://www.alegeri.tv/alegeri-parlamentare-uninominale-2008/borcea/77/colegiul-uninominal-2 | title=Alegeri Parlamentare 2008 - comuna Borcea | work=alegeri.tv | accessdate=February 14, 2012 | archive-date=October 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003143519/http://www.alegeri.tv/alegeri-parlamentare-uninominale-2008/borcea/77/colegiul-uninominal-2 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Although Jenel Serban ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]) won the 2008 elections in the district with 36.21% of the votes to 30.32% for Ioan Damian he lost the  deputy [[Mandate (politics)|mandate]] to Eugen Nicolaescu, a party colleague, after the county redistribution of votes.<ref name="Jenel Șerban lost deputy mandate">{{cite web | url=http://www.eziare.com/stire/pnl-ul-ii-poate-oferi-lui-jenel-serban-o-functie-guvernamentala,441978.html | title=Jenel Șerban lost deputy mandate | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

In the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]], Borcea is represented by Vasile Nedelcu ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]), winner at the 2008 elections for Călărași County's 1st Senate electoral district<ref name="Alegeri Parlamentare 2008 - comuna Borcea" />

==Architecture and landmarks==

=== Vernacular architecture in Borcea ===

Many of the houses in Borcea are built using traditional means of construction and locally sourced materials. The masonry construction of the houses use sun-dried [[mudbrick]]s called ''chirpici''. Finer [[adobe]] is also used for exterior coating and as a binding material. The exterior of a house is usually covered with a layer of lime. Some houses are decorated with traditional [[Motif (visual arts)|motifs]]. The simple ridged roof consists of declined rafters that rest on vertical wall-plates on top of each wall. Tiles are often used as a roof covering although galvanised steel and bitumen could also be found. The roof often extends toward the front of a house to cover a small porch. Supporting frames are seldom used in this type of construction and are usually made of wood. Building an mudbrick house is a community effort with relatives of the house owner assisting in the erection of the building.

[[File:Biserica Sf. Nicolaie.jpg|thumb|text-top|upright=1.2|Saint Nicholas Church]]

===Saint Nicholas Church ===
Saint Nicholas Church was built between 1909 and 1911 in distinct [[Byzantine Revival architecture|neo-Byzantine architecture]]. It has a typical cross-shaped design with two hemispherical [[dome]]s, [[arcade (architecture)|arcade]]s blending into the domes with tin roofing that flows smoothly around the arches and a relatively small belltower. The interior is decorated with mural paintings and a large iconostasis that separates the nave from the sanctuary. There are no seats or pews as in the West, but high-armed chairs placed along the walls traditionally called "strana pl.strane".
 
The church was founded by nobleman Miniu Ion and the first parish priest was Radu Nicolescu. It underwent a foundation reinforcement in 1931, and nave vault repairs in 1941.

== Demographics ==
According to the [[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|National Institute of Statistics]], the commune's population in July 2011 was 9,982 inhabitants.<ref name="INS, SIRUTA, Population of Borcea - July 2011 ">{{cite web | url=http://colectaredate.insse.ro/senin/classifications.htm?selectedClassification=SIRUTA_IULIE_2011&gobacktosearch=false&action=search&searchCode=92970&searchLevel=Nivel3&lastPageDisplayed=1 | title=INS, SIRUTA, Population of Borcea - July 2011 | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref> in an area of 5.35 km2 (2.07 sq mi). The population density is 20.1 people/km2.<ref name="Demographics, Borcea">{{cite web | url=http://www.placelook.com/article/comuna-borcea-judetul-calarasi-descriere | title=Demographics, Borcea | accessdate=February 14, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the commune the population was spread out, with 19.82% under the age of 14, 58.34% from 14 to 59 and 21.85% who were 60 years of age or older. The males represented 50.11% of the population while the females 49.89%.<ref name="Demographics, Ethnic and Religion">{{cite web | url=http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=875&judet_id=1303&localitate_id=1311 | title=Demographics, Ethnic and Religion | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

According to the 2002 Romanian census, 99.15% (9,612 people) of the population of Borcea are ethnic [[Romanians]]. The remainder is composed of [[Romani people|Roma]] 0.78% (76 people), [[Hungarian people|Hungarians]] 0.03% (3 people) and [[Lipovans]] 0.03% (3 people).<ref name="Demographics, Ethnic and Religion" />

In terms of religion, 99.13% (9610 people) of the population are [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox]] and 0.69% (67 people) are [[Romanian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists|Seventh-day Adventist]]. The [[Roman Catholicism in Romania|Roman Catholic]] and the [[Reformed Church in Romania|Reformed]] communities claim 0.14% (14 people) and 0.03% (3 people) of the population respectively.<ref name="Demographics, Ethnic and Religion" />

[[Romanian language|Romanian]] is spoken as a first language by 99.82% of the population of Borcea. [[Vlax Romani]] is spoken by 0.12% (12 people), [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] by 0.03% (3 people) and [[Russian language|Russian]] by 0.02% (2 people) of the population.<ref name="Demographics, Ethnic and Religion" />

The population of Borcea is experiencing a decline since the fall of the communist regime due to the proximity to the cities [[Călărași]] (34&nbsp;km) and [[Fetești]] (5&nbsp;km) and the 2007 integration of Romania into the [[European Union]]. This led to the widespread migration of the population to the nearby cities or higher income countries where there are better job opportunities and higher salaries.

== Economy ==
The economy of the Borcea commune revolves around [[agriculture]], [[fishing]] and [[retail]]ing. As of 2011 over 200 companies were registered in Borcea, 32 agricultural companies, of which three are former state farms operating more than 8,000 ha of arable land.<ref name="Economy, Borcea">{{cite web | url=http://www.ecomunitate.ro/Mediul_de_afaceri%2820470%29.html | title=Economy, Borcea | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref>

The commune's budget for 2011 was 7,413,000 RON (approx 1,705,000 EUR).<ref name="Borcea budget 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.primariaborcea.ro/Proiecte%20bugetare/contabilitate/Bugetul%20local%20pe%20anul%202011.pdf | title=Borcea budget 2011 | accessdate=February 17, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Tourism in Borcea is based on the fishing and hunting activities.

Top ten companies after annual turnover (2010):<ref name="Annual Turnover Companies">{{cite web | url=http://www.listafirme.ro/calarasi/borcea/o1.htm | title=Annual Turnover Companies | accessdate=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Company !! Annual Turnover (RON) !! Annual Turnover(EUR) !! Domain
|-
| Agricom Borcea SA    || 15,847,297 || 3,642,625 || Agriculture
|-
| Agroserv Borcea SRL  || 3,343,225  || 768,466   || Agriculture
|-
| Crismetal SRL        || 2,085,411  || 479,348   || Agriculture
|-
| Filip Construct SRL  || 1,701,992  || 391,216   || Construction
|-
| SC Top Construct SRL || 1,526,685  || 350,920   || Retail
|-
| SC Agrofulvia SRL    || 1,415,287  || 325,314   || Agriculture
|-
| SC Agromec Borcea SA || 1,173,675  || 269,778   || Agriculture
|-
| SC Bac COM SRL       || 985,777    || 226,588   || Retail
|-
| SC Agro Vis 2006 SRL || 800,315    || 183,958   || Agriculture
|-
| SC Consumcoorp Borcea || 640,659    || 147,260   || Retail
|}

==Transport==
Borcea is served by two roads: the [[Roads in Romania|national road]] {{ill|DN3B|ro}} (which runs through [[Călărași]] and [[Fetești]]) and the county road DJ308A (which links Borcea to the national road {{ill|DN3A|ro}}). Borcea still relies on [[gravel roads]] for inner commune transportation. The nearest train station is in [[Fetești]], {{cvt|12|km}} away.

==Notable people==
* [[Vasile Adamescu]] (1944–2018), deafblind educator
* {{ill|Gerhard Ortinau|ro||de}} (born 1953), writer

==References==
<references />

<br>
{{Călăraşi County}}

[[Category:Communes in Călărași County|Borcea]]
[[Category:Localities in Muntenia]]