Onești is a municipality in Bacău County, located in the Tazlău-Cașin Depression, in an area where the rivers Oituz and Cașin flow into the Trotuș River, upstream of its confluence with the Tazlău River, approximately 98 km southwest of the city of Bacău.
History
The first documentary mention of the village of Onești dates back to December 14, 1458, during the reign of Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great). Its name derives from “Seliștea lui Oană la Trotuș” (“Oană’s Settlement on the Trotuș”). The modern city was developed on the site of the old village in 1952 when it was decided to build the Borzești Industrial Group and the associated workers’ town of Onești, by a decision of the Council of Ministers. This led to the establishment of the first colonies and the beginning of the construction of the first apartment buildings. Between 1952 and 1960, the neighborhoods of Cașin and Tineretului were built, and in 1956, the commune of Onești was granted city status. Starting from March 1965, the city was renamed Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, after the name of the communist leader, and since 1990, after the anti-communist revolution, it returned to its original name, following the adoption of a law in 1996.
Population
Since the establishment of the city in 1952, the population has recorded a remarkable growth, in line with rapid industrialization. Thus, in the first official census after its establishment, on February 25, 1956, the population of Onești was 11,253 inhabitants. After 21 years, in the census of January 5, 1977, the population had reached 41,577 inhabitants, representing an increase of approximately 400% in just 20 years. Towards the end of the communist period, the growth rate moderated, but the upward trend continued. In the census of 1992, 58,810 inhabitants were recorded, representing an increase of approximately 40% compared to 1977. However, after the Revolution, the trend reversed, so that in 2002, the population had decreased to 51,416 inhabitants, representing a decrease of approximately 12.6%.