Orasul Cehu Silvaniei, situat la o distanta de 34 km fata de Zalau, impreuna cu cele patru localitati componente: - Horoatu Cehului, Motis, Nadis si Ulciug, formeaza o unitate teritorial administrativa cu o suprafata totala de 67,77 km2 situata din punct de vedere geografic la contactul Depresiunii Salaj si a Culmii Salajului cu depresiunea Guruslau, in bazinul hidrografic al raului Salaj.
Desi atestat documentar doar din anul 1405, sub denumirea de Chehy ( 1854 - Szilagy Cseh), in anul 1319 este semnalata prezenta unei cetati de pamant, "Castrum Cheevar", care se pare ca a avut rolul de a apara asezarea din vatra actualului oras Cehu Silvaniei. In istoria orasului se consemneaza diferite perioade de inflorire si prosperitate economica, dar si de decadere. Aici se pot aminti construirea castelului fortificat al Cehului din anul 1526 de catre Belteki Dragffi Janos, privilegiul dat cetatii de Sigismund Bathory la 1529 pentru a se autoguverna, asediul cetatii de catre armatele imperiale austriece la mijlocul secolului al XVI-lea, asediile repetate ale armatelor otomane, rolul cetatii jucat in timpul rascoalei curutilor, miscarile revolutionare de la 1848, cele doua razboaie mondiale si perioada comunista, sunt doar cateva episoade care si-au pus amprenta asupra dezvoltarii economice a asezarii.
Celelalte localitati componente sunt atestate documentar inca din prima jumatate a secolului al XIII-lea. Horoatu Cehului este atestat documentar in anul 1220 sub denumirea de villa Chroat, Motis in anul 1387 sub denumirea de villa olachalis Mutos, Nadis in anul 1387 sub denumirea de villa olachalis Nadasd si Ulciug, tot in anul 1387 sub denumirea de Volcsek.
Sub aspect demografic, la ultimul recensamant, populatia orasului Cehu Silvaniei si a localitatilor componente numara 8008 locuitori, din care 47,37% romani, 49,5% maghiari, 3% rromi, 0,11% germani, si 0,02% reprezentand alte nationalitati.
Desi economia orasului este una predominant agricola, ramurile industriale de traditie pentru acest oras, respectiv industria mobilei si industria textila sunt prezente si in continua dezvoltare. Sectorul tertiar a avut in ultimii 14 ani cel mai mare ritm de dezvoltare din cadrul economiei locale.
Dintre obiectivele de interes turistic, monumente istorice, de arhitectura si rezervatii naturale prezente in acest areal, trebuie mentionate rezervatia naturala Lunca cu lalea pestrita, Biserica reformata (1519), Biserica de lemn "Sfintii Arhangheli" ( sec. al XVII-lea), Fantana de piatra (sec. al XVI-lea), Biserica de lemn "Sfintii Arhangheli" ( 1738) de la Nadis, Biserica de lemn "Adormirea Maicii Domnului" (1781) de la Ulciug si Biserica de lemn "Sfintii Arhangheli" ( 1749) de la Horoatu Cehului.
Situated at a distance of 24 kms from Zalau, the city Cehu Silvaniei forms with its four belonging localities Horoatu Cehului, Motis, Nadis and Ulciug a 67,77 square kms territorial-administrative unit. From a geographical point of view it is situated at the meeting point of the depression of Salaj and of the peak of Salaj with the Guruslau Basin, in the hydrographic basin of Salaj.
Although it was only mentioned in the year 1405 by the name Chehy (1854 - Szilagy Cseh), in 1319 the existence of a stronghold made out of soil "Castrum Cheevar" is mentioned, that had the obvious role of protecting the settlement. Throughout its history Cehu Silvaniei has known different periods of economical increase, but also of decline. At this point can be mentioned the building of the strengthened stronghold of Cehu in 1526 by Belteki Dragffi Janos, raised to this status by Zsigmond Bathory in 1529 so as to be able of self-government. In the mid 16th century the Austrian imperial troupes and then Turkish troupes successively conquered the city. The fortress had a significant importance during the Kuruts uprising, during the revolutionary movements of 1848, during the two World Wars and during the communist period. The other belonging localities are mentioned in historical documents in the first half of the 13th century. Horoatu Cehului is mentioned in 1220 by the name of villa Chroat, Motis in 1387 by the name villa olachalis Mutos, Nadis in 1387 by the name villa olachalis Nadasd and Ulciug also in 1387 by the name Volcsek.
Demographically, according to the last census the population of Cehul Silvaniei is structured as it follows: 8.008 inhabitants, out of which 47,37% Romanians, 49,50% Hungarians, 3% Roms, 0,11% Germans and 0,02% other nationalities.
The economy of the town is predominantly agricultural, the traditional representative industries being that of furniture and textile showing a considerably development. The tertiary domain had in the last 14 years the greatest rhythm of development on a local economical level.
Out of the touristical objectives, historical architectural monuments, natural reservations of the territory, the following are worth being mentioned: the natural reservation "Lunca cu Lalea Pestrita" ("The Plain with Patchy Tulip"), the reformed church (1519), the wooden church "Sfintii Arhangheli" (17th century), the stone fountain (16th century), the wooden church "Sfintii Arhangheli" (1738) from Nadis, the wooden church "Adormirea Maicii Domnului" (1781) from Ulciug and the wooden church "Sfintii Arhangheli" (1749) from Horoatu Cehului.
Szilagycseh (Cehu Silvaniei) 34 km-re talalhato Zilahtol, negy masik helyseg Olahhorvat (Horoatu Cehului), Mutos (Motis), Szilagynadasd (Nadis) es Volcsog (Ulciug) tartozik hozza, teljes terulete 67,77 km2. A Szilagysagi medencenek es a Tovishatnak a Goroszloi medencevel valo talalkozasanal, a Szilagy folyo volgyeben fekszik.
Annak ellenere, hogy irasban csak 1405-ben emlitik eloszor Chehy (1854 - Szilagy Cseh) neven, mar 1319-ben emlites tortenik egy Castrum Cheevar nevu varrol, melyet kiralyi adomanykent birtokolt Elefanti Dezső, Pok Simon, majd a Dragffi, Bathori, Thokoli, Apafi es Gyulafi csaladok. Jelentosebb atalakitas Belteki Dragffi Janos orszagbiro nevehez fuzodik (1526). Erdemes megemliteni a var Bathory Zsigmond altal adomanyozott onkormanyzati jogat (1529), az osztrak csaszari hadsereg varostromat (XVI. szazad kozepe), a torok sereg tobbszori ostromat, a var szerepet a kuruc felkeles idejen. Ma a varbol csak a reneszansz kut lathato (1525?), mely Erdelyben talan egyedulalla. Az 1848-as forradalmi megmozdulasok, a ket vilaghaboru es vegul a kommunizmus idoszaka es esemenyei nagymertekben befolyasoltak a telepules gazdasagi eletet.
A tobbi helysegrol mar a XIII. szazad elso feleben tortenik irasos emlites. Olahhorvatot eloszor 1220-ban emlitik a dokumentumok villa Chroat neven, Mutost 1387-ben, villa olachalis Mutos neven, Szilagynadasdot 1387-ben villa olachalis Nadasd neven, es vegul Volcsokot szinten 1387-ben Volcsek neven.
Szilagycseh nepessege az utolso nepszamlalasi adatok szerint 8.008 fo, ebbol 47,37% roman, 49,50% magyar, 3% roma, 0,11% nemet es 0,02% mas nemzetisegu.
Bar a varos legfontosabb gazdasagi aga a mezogazdasag, a hagyomanyos iparagak, peldaul a butorgyartas es a textilipar ma is fejlodokepesek. A helyi gazdasag viszonylataban az utobbi 14 evben a szolgaltatoipar fejlodott a leggyorsabb utemben.
Szilagycseh emlekmuvei, epiteszeti muemlekei es termeszeti kincsei kozul emlitesre melto a termeszetvedelmi rezervatum, a reformatus templom (1519-ben Dragffi Janos orszagbiro epíttette), az ortodox fatemplom (XVII. szazad), valamint a varbeli reneszansz kut (XVI. szazad). A szilagynadasdi ortodox fatemplomot 1738-ban epitettek, a volcsoki fatemplom 1781-ben epult, mig az olahhorvati fatemplom 1749-bol valo.
