Brad (; ; ) is a city in Hunedoara County in the Transylvania region of Romania. Its name comes from the Romanian word brad, "fir". Geography The city is located in the northern part of the county, at the foot of the Metaliferi Mountains. It lies in the valleys of the river Crișul Alb and its tributaries, Brad and Luncoiu. Five villages are administered by the city: Mesteacăn ("birch"; Mesztákon), Potingani (Pottingány), Ruda-Brad (Ruda), Țărățel (Cerecel) and Valea Bradului ("the valley of the fir tree"; Vályabrád). History A gold mine in the area began to be exploited in Roman times, and the town developed around it. The earliest documentary mention of Brad dates to 1445. Gold mining was active until 2006. There is a Gold Museum. Buildings and monuments The Brad railway station is listed as a historic monument. The central plaza of Brad features a copy of the Capitoline Wolf, near the Dacian Draco. Demographics Romanians - 13,534 (97.3%) Romani - 192 (1.38%) Hungarians - 127 (0.91%) Germans - 19 (0.13%) Others - 33 Natives Cătălin Bălescu Gavril Blajek Ilarion Felea Florin Maxim Teodor Meleșcanu László Pataky Ileana Stana-Ionescu References Populated places in Hunedoara County Localities in Transylvania Cities in Romania Mining communities in Romania