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An Evaluation of the Characteristics of and Future Development of the Settlements in Someşană Plain (northern Transylvanian Plain). There are 141 rural settlements on the surface of 1846.7 sq km of the Someşană Plain. The density of the rural settlements, which is on an average of 7.6 villages/100sq km, is above the average value registered at the level of the whole Transylvanian Plain. The average population density of a rural settlement is of 510 inhabitants, much lower than the average density of the Romanian villages. Most settlements are situated along valleys on the glacis between floodplains and slopes (due to the water resources and the fertility of the soil), in small basins of origin, or on slopes, where they occupy the areas of interfluves. Rarely are they situated on the structural areas of the slopes profile. The average density of the population in the villages of the Someşană Plain is of 5.6 inhabitants/ hectare. The quality and quantity indicators that reflect the geo-demographic, the endowment and the localization potential were used in order to estimate the natural and the socio-economic potential. There are four categories, most villages (52 out of 141) being part of that category of settlements with a low potential. Summing up the values of partial vulnerability expressed through classifying index values characteristic to spatial, physical, demographic, social and economic vulnerability in the 141 rural settlements (in the territory under analysis) show that most settlements are vulnerable from social, economic and demographic point of view (45.62%). The development of the villages in the Plain depends on the improvement of the infrastructure and the means of communication as well as on the creation of better connections between the relatively remote villages and the urban centres from the adjacent corridor areas. Another problem to be solved, besides this aspect, is the water problem, which is unsatisfactory both from the quantity and quality point of view; in addition, facilities of social interest should be provided on a proper and functional level (educational, health, communication institutions etc.)

Keywords: agrarian region, index of renewal, natural, social and economic potential physical and demographic vulnerability