Bacau County
Medieval Moldavian trade crossroads transformed into Romania's aviation hub where Aerostar survived communism to maintain NATO F-16s.
Bacau County exists because trade routes converged at a Bistrita River ford and later because communist planners chose it for aviation. First documented in 1408 when Prince Alexander the Good granted commercial privileges, Bacau sat at the crossroads linking Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Constantinople. The county became Moldavia's industrial heartland during communism - oil refineries at Onesti and Darmanesti processed crude discovered as early as 1840 (Romania's first commercial well was drilled here in 1857). But aircraft manufacturing defines modern Bacau: Aerostar, with 65+ years of history, survived post-communist collapse through privatization in 2000, pivoting to NATO-compatible upgrades, drone production, and F-16 maintenance contracts. The company exports over 100 million euros annually. From 1968-1989, Romania built major aeronautical facilities here alongside Bucharest, Brasov, and Craiova. The Siret River corridor that made Bacau a medieval customs post now carries industrial output. Oil processing, chemicals, mechanical engineering, textiles, and aviation anchor the economy. By 2026, defense contracts and F-16 fleet maintenance will expand Aerostar's role while traditional industries persist.