The Vidin District

Geographical Location

The Vidin district is located in the northwestern part of Bulgaria and covers a territory of 3,022 square kilometers, which is 2,7% of the country's total.

To the north it borders the Danube and is naturally connected to Romania and the other Danubian countries. To the west its border tallies with the Bulgarian - Serbian boundary. To the east it neighbors the Montana district and to the south it is surrounded by the Balkan Mountains.

The Vidin district has a diverse relief. From the northeast to the northwest follow the Danubian plane, the Pre-Balkan Mountains and the Balkan mountain range.

There are significant deposits of raw materials of sedimentary character on the district's territory. The most promising and economically efficient are the gypsum deposits near Koshava village, which are unique on the Balkan Peninsula. Significant deposits of limestone and clay, as well as marble deposits near Chuprene village have also been discovered. The mineral water springs near Slanotran village are not fully utilized yet but they possess capacity for future development and investments.

Population

The population of the Vidin district is 131,215 people, of which 63,650 men and 67,565 women. 77,422 people live in the towns and 54,088 - in the local villages.

There are 139 towns and villages in the district, administratively divided in 11 municipalities (Vidin, Bregovo, Novo Selo, Dimovo, Roujintsi, Belogradchik, Boynitsa, Chuprene, Gramada, Makresh, Kula).

The town of Vidin is the main administrative, economic and cultural center of the district, located on the Danube River with a population of 57,614 people.

Over one half of the population is in working age, and about one fourth is between 20 and 39 years of age. (Preliminary data of the 2001 census)