Racoș

{{Other uses}}

{{Infobox Romanian subdivision

|type = commune

|county = Brașov

|name = Racoș

|other_name = Alsórákos

|image_flag =

|image_shield =

|image_skyline = Cetetea Bethlen Racos (1).jpg

|image_caption =

|image_location =

|image_map = Racos jud Brasov.jpg

|map_caption =

|leader_name = Ion Epureanu

|leader_party = UDMR

|leader_term = 2020–2024

|coordinates = {{coord|46|1|N|25|24|E|region:RO|display=it}}

|elevation = 484

|elevation_min =

|elevation_max =

|area_total = 77.78

|population_as_of =

|population_total = auto

|population_footnotes =

|postal_code = 507175

|area_code = +(40) 268

|website = {{URL|https://comunaracos.ro/}}

}}

Racoș (also Racoșul de Jos; {{langx|de|Unter-Krebsdorf}}; {{langx|hu|Alsórákos}}) is a commune in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Mateiaș (Mátéfalva) and Racoș.

The commune is located at the northern edge of the county, on the border with Covasna County, and near the border with Harghita County. It lies on the banks of the Olt River, {{cvt|19|km}} from the town of Rupea and {{cvt|63|km}} from the county seat, Brașov. There are train stations in both Racoș and Mateiaș that serve Line 300 of the CFR network, which connects Bucharest with the Hungarian border near Oradea.

The Racoș volcano is the oldest volcano in the region, and appears to be inactive.{{Cite journal|author1=Seghedi, I.|author2= Popa, RG.|author3= Panaiotu, C.G.|display-authors=etal|date=2016|title=Short-lived eruptive episodes during the construction of a Na-alkalic basaltic field (Perșani Mountains, SE Transylvania, Romania)|journal=Bulletin of Volcanology|volume=78|issue=10|page=69 |doi=10.1007/s00445-016-1063-y|bibcode=2016BVol...78...69S |s2cid=133351161}} The commune is the site of the {{ill|Racoșul de Jos nature preserve|ro|Complexul Geologic Racoșul de Jos}} and of the {{ill|Racoș basalt columns|ro|Coloanele de bazalt de la Racoș}}. The {{ill|Cotul Turzunului|ro}} nature preserve is partly situated on the territory of Racoș.

{{Historical populations

|source = Census data

|2002 |3178

|2011 |3336

|2021 |3345

}}

At the 2021 census, the commune had a population of 3,345; of those, 41.5% were Hungarians, 31.6% Roma, and 21% Romanians.{{cite web|url=https://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tabel-1.03_1.3.1-si-1.03.2.xls|title=Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021|publisher=INSSE|language=ro|date=31 May 2023}} At the 2011 census, there were 3,336 inhabitants; 55% were Hungarians, 23.2% Romanians, and 21.6% Roma. At the 2002 census, 33.4% were Reformed, 23.3% Romanian Orthodox, 21% Pentecostal, 17.7% Unitarian, and 3.6% Roman Catholic.

The ruins of a Dacian fortress are located in Racoș. Alongside this the {{ill|Sükösd-Bethlen Castle|ro|Castelul Sükösd-Bethlen}} is a historic monument, first attested in 1636 which is also located in Racoș inside a now park. Another tourist destination is the Emerald Lake.