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Straldja municipality is a traditional agricultural area with an ancient past. It is located in the eastern undulating section of the Thracian lowlands, the rolling areas of the Tundja River valley.

The most northerly parts reach to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains while the southernmost point goes to the slopes of the Bacadjitsite Mountain rise and the northwestern spur of the Straldja Mountain.

In the north, the municipality borders on Kotel municipality; in the east, the towns of Karnobat and Sredets; in the south, Bolyarovo and Eltovo municipalities; and in the west, Tundja municipality and the town of Sliven.

Administrative center of the municipality is the town of Straldja, in the northern portion of the municipality. Total area for the municipality is 722 square kilometers, with 81% in agriculture.

HISTORICAL PAST

Straldja is on the site of ancient Thracian and Medieval settlements. It was also the scene of many battles between the Proto-Bulgarians and the Byzantine Empire. One ancient site - unique of its kind - is the remains of a frontier entrenchment called Erkesiate, which is located within the municipality.

The town of Straldja was the seat for the committee working for the union of Eastern Rumelia with the Bulgarian Principality in 1885. In 1964, the present town was incorporated.

Folk traditions in the area are well-preserved and still very much alive.

CLIMATE

The climate of the municipality is characterized as trans-continental influenced by Mediterranean weather patterns. A large peat bog near Straldja is not only a climatic factor but of some economic importance to the region.

Soil diversity in the municipality includes clay, clayey, black earth and maroon forest soils. A variety of ore and mineral deposits are in the area, including clay, sand, lime, grey sandstone, and poly-metal ores.

A large spring of mineral water in the north of the municipality has a capacity of 81 liters per second and a temperature of 77o Celsius.

POPULATION

The municipality has a 7,550 in the labor force - 4,256 men and 3,680 women. There are also 6113 retirees in the area. The town of Straldja has a population of 6700, with the rest living in the 21 villages in the municipality.

COMMUNICATIONS

The municipality is served by a road system with a total length of 404.2 kilometers, which includes all classes of public roads including asphalt paving. This network provides for traffic among the villages or settlements of the municipality and with the administrative center.

Highways running through the municipality include:

* Highway I-6, the main Sofia-Bourgas artery,

* Highway I-7, Yambol-Shoumen,

* Road II-53, Yambol-Sredets-Bourgas, and

* Road III-793, Petrolatchkate-Golyamo Krushevo.

The municipality is completely electrified, with one substation and 76 electricity traffic stations in the territory. All villages have public lighting.

There are 24 water reservoir facilities with a total capacity of 7865 cubic meters. The water supply system includes 212 kilometers of water lines.

A transit gas main, which crosses Bulgaria from the Romanian frontier to the Turkish border, passes through the municipality with a total length of 62.5 kilometers in the territory.

Communications facilities in the municipality include a main post office and 11 telephone exchange stations, a cable radio station with 1020 receivers and a cable television provider with 500 customers.

BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES

Branches of three banks operate within the territory of the municipality:

* "Hebros" Bank - banking facilities and "Borika" bank cards.

* Savings Bank - deposits and credits only in levs. Banking facilities for both companies and individuals.

* Central Cooperative Bank - banking facilities in both levs and foreign currency, as well as "Borika" bank cards. An electronic system of distant banking in levs and foreign currencies is also provided.

Insurance companies in the municipality are: the State Insurance Company (DZI), "Orel," "Phoenix," "Bulgaria" and "Bulstrad."

ECONOMY

The region is predominantly agricultural. Arable lands, perenniel plants, meadowlands, seed growing farms, pasture grounds and field roads come to 59,141.4 hectares, 81% of the total land in the municipality. Distribution:

* Forests, 8,613.7 hectares,

* Water reservoirs, 802.6 hectares,

* Arable irrigated land suitable for vegetables and perennials, 8200 hectares,

* Vineyards with "Caberne" and "Misket" varieties, 1,500 hectares.

Industrial firms in the municipality include: a metal-working shop (branch of the firm "Arsenal"; a woodworking company, "Emil"; a plant producing irrigation systems, pipes and metal products, "Sila"; a ceramic plant producing tiles; canning operations, a mill, and others.

FUTURE INVESTMENT PROJECTS

There are building plots in the municipality industrial area that are designated for:

* Construction of a dairy plant with a staff of 50-60, based on dairy cattle breeding and production in the area,

* Building a meat-packing plant, for sausage-making and other products, with a 60-person staff,

* Expanding the existing fruit and vegetable canning operation,

* Building greenhouses for production of fruits and flowers, and

* Expanding the production areas for vineyards and growing of perennial crops.