Stavropol

Stavropol (Russian Ставрополь, from Greek stavros, Cross, and polis, city), 1935-1943 Woroschilowsk (Russian Ворошиловск ), is a city in Russia in the North Caucasus Federal District with 398 539 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ). Stavropol is the capital of the Stavropol region.

Geography

Stavropol is nestled between hills and valleys at the foothills of the North Caucasus. The city lies on the 45th parallel, which corresponds to approximately Florence or Barcelona.

History

The city was founded in 1777 as one of ten forts to guard the southern borders of the Russian Empire. The city name goes back to a custom of the time to give new cities in Russia Greek names ( see, for example Sevastopol, Mariupol ). The name " Stavropol " means city of the cross. Origin of this name is a legend that says that a large stone cross was discovered in the ground while building the fortress. In 1785 the town was city status in 1847, he was Gouvernementshauptstadt. Due to its location at a post from the European part of Russia in the Caucasus and the importance as a military base, the city developed economically relatively quickly. End of the 19th century Stavropol received a railroad connection.

In 1935, the city was renamed in honor of Marshal Voroshilov in Woroschilowsk, but eight years later reverted to its original name.

From August 1942 to January 1943 the city was occupied during World War II by German troops. Prior to approximately 100,000 residents had fled, so the city during the invasion of the Germans had only some ten thousand inhabitants. Many houses were destroyed by fighting in January 1943, many more well lit by the Wehrmacht during their retreat. In the spring and summer of 1943, many residents returned to the city.

Population

The approximately 400,000 people Stavropol comprehensive population continues to almost 89 % made ​​up of Russians. There are also in the town a significant Armenian minority ( 4.5%), as well as several thousand Ukrainians, Azeris, Greeks, Karachays, Lezgins and Tatars.

Demographics

Note: Census data

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Marija Abakumowa, javelin thrower
  • Alexei Drejew, chess player
  • Konstantin Igropulo handball player
  • Sergei Karpov, historians
  • Yevgeniya Koschelnikowa, triathlete
  • Yevgeny Kuznetsov, water Springer
  • Igor Lavrov, handball player
  • Alexei Schipenko, writers, musicians and actors
  • Sergei Shmatko, politicians and entrepreneurs
  • Mikhail Sjusjumow, historians
  • Mikhail Umansky, German chess master and 13th Correspondence Chess World Champion

Sports

In football, the city is represented by the Dynamo Stavropol.

Twinning

Stavropol is twinned with the French Beziers, Des Moines in the U.S. and with Pazardzhik in Bulgaria.

Air table

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