built between 1871 and 1873. In 1919, the Simion Bărnuțiu National College, the first Romanian language high school in Sălaj County was founded here, and today the town is home to three high schools. In 1940, Șimleu Silvaniei, along with the rest of Northern Transylvania, was given to Hungary through the Second Vienna Award imposed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy; Romania regained the area in 1944. Since 1997, inside Bic Monastery, there is the wooden church from Stâna; built in 1778 it has a rectangular plan with nave and pronave. Holocaust The Cehei ghetto operated within the town's administrative area. The ghetto was one of the Nazi-era ghettos for European Jews during World War II. It was active in the spring of 1944, following Operation Margarethe. The deportations from Cehei took place in three transports: May 31 (3,106), June 3 (3,161) and June 6 (1,584), with a total of 7,851 Jews sent to Auschwitz. Some 1,200 Sălaj Jews survived the Holocaust but later emigrated from Romania, so that by the 2000s, under fifty Jews remained in the county. Population According to the 1910 census, from 6,885 inhabitants 6,030 were Hungarians (87,58%) and 759 were Romanians (11,02%). According to the census from 2011, there were 14,436 people living within the city. Of this population, 66.77% are ethnic Romanians, while 22.87% are ethnic Hungarians, 9.82% ethnic Romani, and 0.51% others. Politics 2012 election The Șimleu Silvaniei Council, elected in the 2012 local government election, is made up of 17 councilors, with the following party composition: 7-Democratic Party, 4-Social Democratic Party, 3-Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, 2-National Liberal Party, and 1-People's Party – Dan Diaconescu. 2008 election The mayor Septimiu Țurcaș was elected in the second round of 2008 local government election. 2004 election The mayor Septimiu Țurcaș was elected for the first time in 2004 local government election as a member of the Democratic Liberal Party and re-elected in 2008 and 2012. Mayors József Udvari Octavian Guțu (b. February 23, 1946) was elected in 2000. Septimiu Țurcaș (b. September 6, 1968) was elected in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Mihai-Cristian Lazar was elected in 2021. Flora and fauna Cehei Pond Nature Reserve is a protected area with aquatic vegetation and fauna within the town's administrative area. Sights to see Cehei Pond (18.20 ha) Castle ruins Báthory mansion (16th century) Roman Catholic church (1532) Northern Transylvania Holocaust Memorial Museum Wooden