Shenkursk

Shenkursk (Russian Шенкурск ) is a small town in north-west Russia. It belongs to the Arkhangelsk Oblast and has 5702 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ). Shenkursk administrative center of the homonymous Schenkurski is rayon.

Geography

The city is located about 373 km southeast of the Oblasthauptstadt Arkhangelsk on the right bank of the Waga, a left tributary of the Northern Dvina.

History

Shenkursk was the first time in 1315 in a deed of purchase of the Schenkurski Pogost ( Шенкурский погост ) mentioned. At the same time, the residents of the area built on the mountain Schenga - Kurja ( Шеньга - Курья ) a Ostrog. In 1552 it was the center of the Waschski Ujesd ( Важский уезд ) and was from 1565 under the name Waga one of the places that came up for the upkeep of the Oprichnina. 1629, the village was first mentioned under its present name Shenkursk in a charter of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. From 1710 Shenkursk belonged to the province Archangelogorod and was at the same time capital of the Oblast Waschka ( Важский область ). In 1780 it obtained its present city charter and was the center of the Schenkurski Ujesd within the Gouvernementes Arkhangelsk. After the dissolution of Gouvernementes, Shenkursk in 1929 to the center of the newly established Rajon Shenkursk and 1937 part of the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Population Development

The following overview shows the evolution of populations of Shenkursk.

Note: Census data (1926 rounded)

Economy

The main industries of the city are the wood and food industries. The city and the entire Rajon have no connection to the railway network. West of the city runs the Russian highway M8.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Ratmir Dmitrievich Cholmow, Russian chess player