Comuna Maeriste, cu un teritoriu administrativ de 74,97 km2 se gaseste In partea nord-vestica a judetului Salaj, cu un teritoriu administrativ suprapus Colinelor Toglaciului In bazinul hidrografic al Crasnei.
In componenta comunei intra urmatoarele localitati: Maeriste - sat resedinta de comuna situat la o distanta de 43 km fata de municipiul Zalau, Cristelec, Doh, Giurtelecu Simleului, Maladia si Uileacu Simleului.
Asezarile comunei au vechimi considerabile, dovada stand si atestarile documentare ale acestora. Satul Maeriste este atestat documentar In anul 1351 sub denumirea de Hydveg. Celelalte asezari ale comunei sunt atestate documentar ceva mai de vreme, Incepand cu a doua jumatate a secolului al XIII-lea (Cristelec - 1257, Doh - 1338, Giurtelecu Simleului - 1259, Maladia - 1259 si Uileacu Simleului - 1240).
Populatia comunei numara la ultimul recensamant 3504 de locuitori, din care 87,78% romani, 11,24% maghiari, 0,79% rromi, 0,11% slovaci si 0,08% alte nationalitati.
Economia comunei este predominant agrara, cerealele, cartoful si legumele detinand cea mai mare pondere In structura culturilor agricole. In ultimii ani s-a Inregistrat si o revigorare a sectorului zootehnic.
Desi comuna nu dispune de elemente ale fondului turistic natural de mare valoare, valorificarea obiectivelor de patrimoniu In scop turistic ar aduce mari beneficii comunei. In periplul oricarui turist prin aceasta comuna trebuie incluse In program vizitarea bisericii reformate (biserica fostei manastiri benedictine), monument de arhitectura datat din anul 1260-1300, si a celorlalte biserici de pe raza comunei, constructii de cult reprezentative.
Alaturi de acestea, peisajul agrar, cu Intinse terenuri agricole cultivate, vetrele satelor, si nu In ultimul rand harnicia si ospitalitatea locuitorilor din aceasta comuna, fac ca acest areal sa devina atragator.
The commune with a 74,97 square kms territory is situated in the north-west part of the county, in the hydrographic basin of the Crasna River. It consists of the following villages: Maeriste - the central village placed at 43 kms distance from Zalau city, Cristelec, Doh, Giurtelecu Simleului, Maladia and Uileacu Simleului.
Maeriste was first attested in 1351 under the name Hydveg. The other settlements were mentioned a little earlier (Cristelec - 1257, Doh - 1338, Giurtelecu Simleului - 1259, Maladia - 1259 and Uileacu Simleului - 1240).
According to the census of the year 2002, the population of the commune counts 3762 inhabitants, of which 87,78% are Romanians, 11,24% Hungarians, 0,79% Roms, 0,11% Slovakians and 0,08.% other nationalities.
The economy of the commune is mainly agricultural, based on cereal-growing, potato-growing and olericulture. In the last few years the livestock-breeding was also in progress.
The reformed church (the church of the former Benedictine monastery), architectural monument dated from 1260-1300, and the other churches of the commune are worth visiting.
A kozseg terulete 74,97 km2, Szilagy megye eszak-nyugati reszen, a Krasznai dombsagon, a Kraszna volgyeben talalhato. A kovetkezo falvak tartoznak hozza: Krasznahidveg (Maeriste) - a kozseg kozpontja, 43 km-re Zilahtol, Kerestelek (Cristelec), Doh (Doh), Somlyogyerotelek (Giurtelecu Simleului), Malade (Maladia) es Somlyoujlak (Uileacu Simleului).
Krasznahidveget 1351-ben emlitik eloszor az okiratok, ekkor Hydveg neven szerepel. A tobbi telepules valamivel korabbi, a XIII. szazad masodik feletol kezdve emlitik oket (Kerestelek - 1257, Doh - 1338, Somlyogyerotelek es Malade - 1259, Somlyoujlak - 1240).
A kozseg lakossaga a legutobbi nepszamlalasi adatok szerint 3504 fo, ebbol 87,78% roman, 11,24% magyar, 0,79% roma, 0,11% szlovak es 0,08% mas nemzetisegu.
Krasznahidveg gazdasaga elsosorban mezogazdasagi jellegu, gabona-, krumpli- es zoldsegtermesztesen alapul. Az utobbi evekben az allattenyesztes is fejlodesnek indult.
A kozseg legfobb turisztikai latvanyossaga a somlyoujlaki reformatus templom (a hajdani bences kolostor temploma), mely 1260-1300-bol szarmazik, epiteszetileg egyedulallo belso szerkezettel.
