Mașloc Explained

Type:commune
County:Timiș
Population Total:auto
Mașloc
Leader Name:Ionel Lupu[1]
Leader Term:2020 - 2024
Leader Party:PNL
Coordinates:46°N 48°W
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:72.06
Postal Code:307270–307273

Mașloc (German: Blumenthal; Hungarian: Máslak) is a commune in Timiș County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Alioș, Mașloc (commune seat) and Remetea Mică. It also included Fibiș until 2004, when it was split off to form a separate commune.

Name

The German name of the village, Blumenthal, means "village of flowers". The German colony was built in a wildflower meadow, hence the name. This is also illustrated by the old stamp of the village, depicting a valley and a flower vase with a lush bouquet of flowers. The Romanian population had great difficulties pronouncing the German name. Therefore they named the village Maslog, as shown in a map from 1864–1865. Maslog was written with "s" and not with the Romanian "ș" (s-comma). Maslog was changed to Mașloc, apparently taking over the ending "-loc" from the Hungarian "-lak" (Máslak). The Hungarian lak – just like the Romanian loc – means "place".

History

Mașloc was first mentioned as Machalaka in 1326.[3] Most of its inhabitants fled after the Turkish conquest of Banat (1552).[4] From this time on, the houses were only temporarily inhabited by people of different nationalities. After the Austrians conquered Banat from the Turks, the village was called Maschlok and had 14 houses.

Mașloc was colonized by Germans from Schwarzwald between 1770–1771, who named it Blumenthal.[5] By 1773, the colony had 93 houses, a school and a pub.

Demographics

Mașloc had a population of 2,285 inhabitants at the 2011 census, down 1% from the 2002 census. Most inhabitants are Romanians (77.68%), larger minorities being represented by Ukrainians (10.9%), Roma (2.8%) and Hungarians (1.58%). For 6.08% of the population, ethnicity is unknown.[6] By religion, most inhabitants are Orthodox (86%), but there are also minorities of Pentecostals (2.67%), Old Believers (2.23%) and Roman Catholics (1.75%). For 6.13% of the population, religious affiliation is unknown.[7]

Census[8] Ethnic composition
Year Population
1880 3,871 1,766 147 1,951
1890 4,175 1,781 162 2,195
1900 4,340 1,911 188 2,224
1910 4,007 1,575 127 2,303
1920 3,878 1,479 89 2,294
1930 3,714 1,467 63 2,157 13
1941 3,564 1,367 44 2,127
1956 3,277
1966 3,064 1,638 38 1,386
1977 2,899 1,593 31 1,066 14 190
1992 2,283 1,800 50 70 20 334
2002 2,307 1,886 38 21 83 271
2011 2,285 1,775 36 13 64 249

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results of the 2020 local elections . Central Electoral Bureau . 16 June 2021 . dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Primăria Mașloc . Ghidul Primăriilor.
  3. Book: Szabó, M. Attila . Erdély, Bánság és Partium történeti és közigazgatási helységnévtára . Pro-Print Kiadó . Miercurea Ciuc . 2003.
  4. Web site: Zeittafel zur Blumenthaler Ortsgeschichte . Heimatortsgemeinschaft Blumenthal-Fibisch . Mildenberger . Peter.
  5. Web site: Fișa Primăriei comunei Mașloc . Consiliul Județean Timiș.
  6. Web site: Tab8. Populația stabilă după etnie – județe, municipii, orașe, comune . Institutul Național de Statistică.
  7. Web site: Tab13. Populația stabilă după religie – județe, municipii, orașe, comune . Institutul Național de Statistică.
  8. Web site: Temes megye településeinek etnikai (anyanyelvi/nemzetiségi) adatai 1880-2002 . Varga . E. Árpád.