Kuznetsk

Kuznetsk (Russian Кузнецк ) is a Russian city with 88 839 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ) in the Penza Oblast. It is the capital of the eponymous district ( Rajons ) and measured in terms of population, the second largest city of the oblast.

Geography

Kuznetsk located around 250 meters above sea level on the Volga River Heights, on the banks of the river Trujow from the river system, the Volga River. The regional center of Penza is located approximately 120 km west of Kuznetsk; to the nearest towns include Sursk (60 km west of Kuznetsk ) and Gorodischtsche (62 miles west).

History

After the regional center of Penza Kuznetsk is considered the second oldest city in the oblast. It was founded in the late 17th century and was first called Trujowo ( Труёво ) after the local river Trujow. In the 18th century the village was given the name Naryschkino ( Нарышкино ) according to its first owner, Vasily Naryshkin, who was related to the Czar Peter the Great. 1699 was built the first stone building in the village with the Resurrection of Christ Church. Later it flourished thanks to favorable geographical conditions on trade and crafts, regular fairs were organized in the later 18th century in Naryschkino.

1780 Naryschkino was declared in the course of administrative reform on adoption Catherine the Great to the city and got the pre-existing name today Kuznetsk, for the "blacksmith " comes from the Russian word kusnez. The reason for this was that in the city then flourished particularly the iron smithing. At this time Kuznetsk was the capital of the eponymous district in the province of Saratov.

In the 19th century the first factories, including an iron foundry created in addition to the craft in Kuznetsk. In 1874 the city received a railroad connection. After the October Revolution of 1917, more industries were added, including the first power plant in the city. During the Second World War, a number of important factories from the European part of the Soviet Union was evacuated to Kuznetsk. On the basis of the economy of the city was able to develop in the postwar period.

Demographics

Note: except 1992 census data (1926 rounded)

Economy and Transport

Major industries of the city are now electrical engineering, light industry and the production of shoes. There are also chemical plants and food manufacturers. After Pensa Kuznetsk is considered the second most important industrial center of the region.

Kuznetsk is located on the highway M5, which is a Russian section of the European Route 30. Exist with Pensa regular passenger rail connections via the route Penza Sysran.

Culture and sights

In Kuznetsk there are several museums ( including the home and the War Museum ) and architectural monuments of the 19th century (including the new Ascension Church ( 1842-56 ) or the Church of God of Kazan Icon of the Mother ( 1886-90 ) ).

Sons and daughters of the town

• Pavel Kaplun ( b. 1965 ), artist and photographer
• Roman Karmazin (born 1973 ), professional boxer and former World and European Champion
• Igor Tschetwerikow (1904-1987), aircraft designer