# Taraclia

> city in Moldova, capital of Taraclia District

**Wikidata**: [Q2006121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2006121)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraclia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/taraclia

## Summary
Taraclia is a city in Moldova that serves as the administrative capital of Taraclia District. Located in the southern part of the country, it has historically shifted between various empires and states before becoming part of independent Moldova. The city is home to Taraclia State University and has a recorded history dating back to 1813.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Taraclia is situated in Moldova at coordinates 45.9° latitude and 28.668888888889° longitude, with an elevation of 76 meters above sea level.
- **Administrative Status:** It is the capital of Taraclia District and is classified as a city, having previously held the status of an urban-type settlement from 1947 to 1995.
- **Population:** As of the 2024 census, the population is 10,021, consisting of 4,841 males and 5,180 females. Previous census records show a population of 12,355 in 2014 and 14,726 in 1989.
- **Historical Record:** The earliest written record of Taraclia dates to 1813.
- **Institutions:** Taraclia State University, a public university, was established in the city on October 1, 2004.
- **Symbols:** The city's official flag and coat of arms were adopted by the City Council Decision No. 7/2 on December 10, 2021.
- **Codes:** The UN/LOCODE is MDTCA, the local dialing code is 294, the license plate code is TR, and postal codes range from MD-7400 to MD-7402.
- **International Relations:** Taraclia is twinned with Nova Zagora and Sliven in Bulgaria, and Aksakovo in Bulgaria.
- **Identifiers:** The city has a GND ID of 4592608-6, a VIAF ID of 234334281, a GeoNames ID of 617270, and a Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID of 1060149.

## FAQs
**What is the current population of Taraclia?**
According to the 2024 census, Taraclia has a population of 10,021 people, with a female majority of 5,180 compared to 4,841 males.

**Which countries has Taraclia belonged to throughout history?**
Taraclia has been part of the Principality of Moldavia, the Russian Empire, the Russian Republic, the Moldavian Democratic Republic, the Kingdom of Romania, the Soviet Union (including the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic), and finally the independent Republic of Moldova.

**What administrative changes has Taraclia undergone?**
Since 2003, it has been the capital of Taraclia District. Prior to that, it was the capital of Taraclia County (1999–2003), part of Cahul County (1998–1999 and 1918–1940), and part of the Bessarabia Governorate (1812–1917).

**What educational institutions are located in Taraclia?**
The city hosts Taraclia State University, a public institution founded on October 1, 2004.

**When did Taraclia officially become a city?**
Taraclia was classified as an urban-type settlement from 1947 until 1995, after which it attained the status of a city.

## Why It Matters
Taraclia serves as a significant regional administrative center within southern Moldova, acting as the capital of Taraclia District. Its existence reflects the complex geopolitical history of Bessarabia, having transitioned between Ottoman, Russian, Romanian, and Soviet control before settling in modern Moldova. The city plays a crucial role in local education through Taraclia State University, which serves the community and surrounding regions. Furthermore, its demographic trends, showing a decline from 14,726 in 1989 to 10,021 in 2024, offer insight into the broader migratory and social changes affecting the area.

## Notable For
- **Historical Origins:** The settlement's earliest written record dates back to 1813.
- **Administrative Evolution:** It transitioned from an urban-type settlement (1947–1995) to a city and has been the capital of two different administrative counties (Taraclia and Cahul) within the last few decades.
- **Academic Hub:** The establishment of Taraclia State University in 2004 marked the city as a center for higher education.
- **Cross-Border Ties:** The city maintains active twinning relationships with three municipalities in Bulgaria (Nova Zagora, Sliven, and Aksakovo).

## Body

### Geography and Location
Taraclia is located in the southern region of Moldova, specifically within the Taraclia District. The geographic coordinates of the city are 45.9° N and 28.668888888889° E, sitting at an elevation of 76 meters above sea level. The city is identified by various international and national coding systems, including the UN/LOCODE MDTCA and the CUATM statistical code 8701000. Its postal infrastructure covers the codes MD-7400, MD-7401, and MD-7402.

### History and Sovereignty
The history of Taraclia is characterized by frequent changes in national sovereignty and administrative affiliation.
*   **Early History:** Originally part of the Principality of Moldavia, the area became part of the Russian Empire in May 1812 and was included in the Bessarabia Governorate.
*   **Revolutionary Era:** Following the 1917 revolutions, it briefly belonged to the Russian Republic and then the Moldavian Democratic Republic.
*   **Romanian Period:** In March 1918, it became part of the Kingdom of Romania (specifically Cahul County) until June 1940.
*   **Soviet Era:** In June 1940, the city was annexed by the Soviet Union and became part of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was briefly occupied by Romania again from 1941 to 1944 before returning to Soviet control.
*   **Modern Moldova:** With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Taraclia became part of the independent Republic of Moldova in August 1991.

### Administration and Governance
Administratively, Taraclia has undergone several reorganizations.
*   **District Status:** It is currently the capital of Taraclia District, a status it has held since February 2003. It also served as the capital of the first iteration of Taraclia District from 1944 to 1998.
*   **County Status:** From October 1999 to February 2003, it was the capital of Taraclia County. Prior to that, it was part of Cahul County during two distinct periods (1918–1940 and 1998–1999).
*   **Settlement Type:** The settlement was officially classified as an urban-type settlement from 1947 until 1995, after which it was reclassified as a city.

### Demographics
The population of Taraclia has been documented through several censuses, showing a downward trend over the last few decades.
*   **1989 Census:** The population was recorded at 14,726.
*   **2014 Census:** The population decreased to 12,355.
*   **2024 Census:** The population further declined to 10,021. This total is composed of 4,841 males and 5,180 females.

### Infrastructure and Symbols
Taraclia possesses distinct municipal symbols and infrastructure identifiers.
*   **Symbols:** The official flag and coat of arms were adopted on December 10, 2021, by City Council Decision No. 7/2.
*   **Transport and Communication:** Vehicles registered in Taraclia carry the license plate code "TR," and the local telephone area code is 294.
*   **Digital Presence:** The city maintains an official website at http://www.taraclia.md.

### Education
The city is a notable educational center for the region. Taraclia State University is a public university located in the city, established on October 1, 2004.

### International Relations
Taraclia fosters international connections through municipal twinning agreements. The city is officially twinned with:
*   Nova Zagora (Bulgaria)
*   Sliven (Bulgaria)
*   Aksakovo (Bulgaria)

### Identifiers and References
Taraclia is cataloged in numerous global databases and encyclopedic sources.
*   **Database IDs:** GND (4592608-6), VIAF (234334281), GeoNames (617270), Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (1060149), Who's On First (101856839), and Yale Lux ID (place/6a710d32-2baa-470f-9a11-2512b7d9d664).
*   **Encyclopedic Sources:** The city is described by sources such as the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
*   **Other Codes:** It has a Freebase ID (/m/03nqlt), an OpenWeatherMap city ID (617270), and a GNS unique feature ID (-2277438).

## References

1. [Решение городского совета Тараклии № 7/2 от 10 декабря 2021](http://www.vexillographia.ru/moldova/taraclia.htm)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. 2014 Moldovan census
4. 2024 Moldovan census. 2025
5. [Cu privire la formarea coloniei bulgare Taraclia, județul Akkerman. În: Archiva Moldaviae. Iași, 2013, Vol. V (151-165);](https://www.academia.edu/19428938/Duminica_Ivan_Cu_privire_la_formarea_coloniei_bulgare_Taraclia_jude%C5%A3ul_Akkerman_Archiva_Moldaviae_Ia%C5%9Fi_2013_Vol_V_P_151_165)
6. GeoNames
7. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/md.htm)
8. CUATM