PITESTI

city, capital of Arges judet (county), south-central Romania. It lies 70 miles (110 km) northwest of Bucharest and is situated in the Arges River valley, there sheltered by surrounding hills. Pitesti developed in the Middle Ages as a trading centre between the mountainous Transylvania region and the Danube Plain. It is first documented in 1388, though Roman coins and relics have been found in the area. Before 1939 the only industry was a textile mill at Gavana, a suburb; but in the 1960s an industrial district was built northwest of the city proper. Automobile production has become the most important industry; other manufactures include footwear and wood and metal products. Pop. (1992 prelim.) 179,479.