Comuna Valcau de Jos, cu un teritoriu administrativ in suprafata de 63,23 km2, este situata in partea de sud-vest a judetului Salaj, la contactul Depresiunii Plopis cu Muntii Plopisului, in bazinul hidrografic al Barcaului.
Din punct de vedere administrativ, comuna Valcau de Jos are in componenta sase localitati: Valcau de Jos - sat resedinta de comuna situat la o distanta de 45 km fata de municipiul Zalau; Lazuri, Preoteasa, Ratovei, Sub Cetate si Valcau de Sus.
Atestarile documentare ale localitatilor se pierd in negura istoriei. Cele doua sate, Valcau de Jos si Valcau de Sus sunt mentionate pentru prima data in anul 1214. Celelalte asezari sunt atestate ceva mai tarziu, Preoteasa in anul 1423, Lazuri si Sub Cetate in anul 1481 si Ratovei in anul 1956.
Populatia comunei numara la ultimul recensamant 3302 locuitori. Din punct de vedere etnic, populatia prezinta urmatoarea structura: 88,09% romani, 3,17% maghiari, 8,69% rromi si 0,05% alte nationalitati.
Economia comunei este una predominant agricola, cu o buna reprezentare a sectorului zootehnic, sustinut de ponderea mare a pasunilor naturale. in ultimii ani unitatile de productie ale sectorului secundar, reprezentate doar de atelierele micilor mestesugari, sunt completate cu o unitate de asamblare a jucariilor.
Din punct de vedere turistic, comuna Valcau de Jos este arealul bisericilor de lemn, biserici ce strajuiesc cu turnurile lor imprejurimile. Bisericile de lemn din Valcau de Jos, Lazuri, Sub Cetate, Preoteasa si Valcau de Sus, monumente de arhitectura, alaturi de care mai amintim urmele Cetatii Valcau si Valea Barcaului cu afluentii sai, sunt principalele obiective de mare atractie ale comunei.
The commune has a 63,23 square kms territory, it lies in the south-west part of the county, at the contact point between the Plopis Basin and the Plopis Mountains, in the hydrographical basin of the Barcau River. It has six component villages: Valcau de Jos - the central village situated at 45 kms distance from Zalau city, Lazuri, Preoteasa, Ratovei, Sub Cetate and Valcau de Sus.
Valcau de Jos and Valcau de Sus were attested in 1214, Proteoasa in 1423, Lazuri and Sub Cetate in 1481 and Ratovei in 1956.
The total population of the commune counts, according to the last census, 3302 inhabitants. Its ethnical distribution is the following: 88,09% are Romanians, 3,17% Hungarians, 8,69% Roms and 0,05% are other nationalities.
The agriculture of the commune is based on livestock-breeding. In the last few years the secondary sector represented by handicraft was also developing.
The wooden churches in Valcau de Jos, Lazuri, Sub Cetate, Preoteasa, Valcau de Sus and the ruins of the Valcau castle are the most interesting architectural spectacles of the commune.
A kozseg terulete 63,23 km2, Szilagy megye del-nyugati reszen, a Rezalja es a Rez hegyseg talalkozasanal, a Berettyo volgyeben fekszik. Hat kozseg tartozik hozza: Alsovalko (Valcau de Jos) - a kozseg kozpontja, 45 km-re talalhato Zilahtol, ujvagas (Lazuri), Fuzespaptelek (Preoteasa), Ratonbukk (Ratovei), Valkovaralja (Sub Cetate) es Felsovalko (Valcau de Sus).
Alsovalko es Felsovalko elso irasos emlitese 1214-bol szarmazik, Fuzespapteleke 1423-bol, ujvagast es Valkovaraljat 1481-ben emlitik eloszor az okiratok, Ratonbukk pedig csak 1956-ban nyert telepules rangot.
Alsovalko utelagazasi csomopont volt, ezert IV. Bela a tatarjaras utan varat epittetett ide, a kornyek falvai is ehhez tartoztak.
A kozseg lakossaga az utolso nepszamlalasi adatok szerint 3302 fo, a kovetkezo nemzetisegi megoszlassal: 88,09% roman, 3,17% magyar, 8,69% roma es 0,05% mas nemzetisegu.
A kozseg gazdasaga elsosorban mezogazdasagi jellegu, ezen belul az allattenyesztes a legelterjedtebb tevekenyseg. Emellett tobb kisebb kezmuves muhely is beindult az utobbi evekben.
Az alsovalkoi, ujvagasi, valkovaraljai, fuzespapteleki es felsovalkoi fatemplomok mind epiteszeti muemlekek, melyek a valkoi var romjaival egyutt nagy turisztikai vonzerovel birnak.
