Oțelu Roșu is located at an altitude of approximately 300 meters in the Bistrei Valley, which is between the Poiana Ruscă mountains to the north and the Țarcu Mountains to the south. To the south of Oțelu Roșu is a large piedmont of the Țarcu Mountains, locally named Gai. To the north the town makes direct contact with the foothills of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. Dominant heights are the hill of Ferdinand and the hill of Chiciura. Oțelu Roșu is subjected to west European climatic influences because of its altitude and location. The altitude and the neighbouring forests and mountains ensure a mild climate. In the winter, snow may persist as much as two or three months, however the temperatures do not drop too low. In the spring months, especially May, floods are possible due to the melting of the snow in the high areas of the Țarcu Mountains and abundant rains. The most recent flood took place in the year 2000, destroying several bridges across the riverBistra.
History
The first signs of human habitation date from the Paleolithic, in form of primitive tools. Sporadic remnants from the Neolithic age have been found in the neighbouring areas. During the wars between Romans and Dacians, the Bistra Valley was the route used by the emperor Trajan in penetrating into the heartland of Dacia. A Roman castrum can be found near the cemetery of Zăvoi, a settlement close to Oțelu Roșu. In the fifteenth century, during medieval times, Oțelu Roșu was mentioned under the name of "Bistra", and later with the Hungarian name of Nándorhegy. After the expulsion of Turks from Banat by the Habsburgs, the area was colonised by Germans. Also, Italians are brought in to work inmetalworking industry. Within the Kingdom of Hungary, the town was part of Krassó-Szörény County from 1881 to 1920. Later, as the northeastern part of the Banat became part of Romania following the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, the name of Nándorhegy was replaced with Ferdinand. After 1947 the name Ferdinand did not please the Socialist Republic of Romania government, who changed it to Oțelu Roșu in order to underline the importance of the town's metalworking industry.
Population
The population was 9,260 and 13,128. Causes of this demographic regress are among others the problems of the metalworking industry and the high unemployment, making many young people leave the town and move into regional centers such as Timișoara and other areas of Romania. 92.98% of inhabitants are Romanians, 2.09% Germans, 3.23% Hungarians and 0.86% Roma. After 1989, most of the town's Germans, Italians and Slovaks emigrated. In 2002, 76.7% of residents were Romanian Orthodox, 11.4% Roman Catholic, 4.8% Pentecostal, 4.4% Baptist and 1% Reformed.
Education
The town has three schools and one industrial high school.
