Voluntari

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ROU
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Voluntari

|official_name=Voluntari
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Voluntari
pushpin_mapsize =


image_shield=Voluntari_CoA.gif
subdivision_type1=County
subdivision_name1=Ilfov County
subdivision_type2=Status
subdivision_name2=Autolink|Town
settlement_type=Town|
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name=Florentin Costel Pandele
leader_party=Social Democratic Party
|area_total_km2=
population_as_of=2002
population_total=30016|latd=44|latm=29|lats=33|latNS=N|longd=26|longm=11|longs=29|longEW=E|
website=http://www.primaria-voluntari.ro/

Voluntari is a town in Ilfov county, Romania. It is located at a distance of 1 km from the northern border of Bucharest (2 km from the National Road) and is thus frequently viewed as a suburb of Bucharest.

The population is 30,016 inhabitants according to the 2002 census, with an ethnic composition of 97.6% Romanians, 1.7% Roma and 0.7% of other ethnic groups.

The low price of land, the proximity to the city of Bucharest and the easy and reliable access to both the railway network and the road network have allowed a steady development of industrial and commercial facilities, especially in the light industry and import/export commerce. The town's output estimate increased by over 25% between 2001 and 2005. Even with such high development rates, many residents remain unemployed or commute to Bucharest. Voluntari contains a shopping centre known as Jolie Ville Galleria, a Metro Cash and Carry hypermarket as well as the headquarters of Vodafone Romania.

Voluntari literally means "Volunteers", in Romanian, being founded by the volunteer soldiers who fought for Romania in World War I and were given plots to build their home there after the war. The settlement received its city status in 2004.

Local government

The Voluntari Local Council ("Consiliul Local Voluntari") has 19 councillors. It is considered to be a very safe Social Democratic town, currently having the following party composition:

Transport

Voluntari has its own bus network, operated by the local council, consisting of three bus routes: 153, 155 and 167. Additionally, the city is connected to Bucharest by bus routes run by RATB, Bucharest's public transport operator.

Education

Voluntari is the site of the American International School of Bucharest.