Hungarian Review, 1978 (24. évfolyam, 5-12. szám)
BÉKÉS The most important agricultural county in Hungary is Békés, which lies in the south-east corner of the Great Plain. The county covers 6 per cent of the area of the country, but it contains 81/2 per cent of Hungary's arable land. The population of Békés County was 430,000 at the last census. This wide stretch of flat country is poor in mineral resources, but its medicinal and thermal waters supply resorts such as Gyopáros, Gyula and the town of Békés, as well as farms in the area. The county's level of industrial development is one of the lowest in Hungary. Békés County contains 12 state farms, 127 agricultural cooperatives, I fishery co-operative, and 2 specialized agricultural co-operatives. Livestock pro- COUNTY View of Békéscsaba vide 47 per cent of the county's agricultural produce by value, a higher percentage than average. Eighty different products are manufactured in the county, of which at least 30 are important export items. The most important branch of heavy industry is fossil fuels—25 per cent of Hungary's natural gas is tapped in Békés County. Glass, tile and brick manufacture are also significant, and supply the county's fast developing construction industry. However, the most important industry of all is food processing, with handicrafts and needlework also highly developed. The county has five towns— Békéscsaba, Békés, Gyula, Szarvas and Orosháza. In 1950, Békéscsaba, as an important centre of communications and industry, was chosen as the county town.