Kurgan ( rus, Курган, p=kʊrˈgan) is the largest city and the
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
of
Kurgan Oblast in the south of the
Urals Federal District
Ural Federal District (russian: Ура́льский федера́льный о́круг, ''Uralsky federalny okrug'') is one of the eight federal districts of Russia. Its population was 12,080,523 (79.9% urban) according to the 2010 Censu ...
of
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
. Population: .
Until 1782 Kurgan bore the name ''Tsaryovo Gorodishche''.
History
An urban settlement was established here between 1659 and 1662 as Tsaryovo Gorodishche (, meaning ''Imperial Citadel'') by Timofey Nevezhin, a farmer from
Tyumen
Tyumen ( ; rus, Тюмень, p=tʲʉˈmʲenʲ, a=Ru-Tyumen.ogg) is the administrative center and largest city of Tyumen Oblast, Russia. It is situated just east of the Ural Mountains, along the Tura River. Fueled by the Russian oil and gas in ...
. In the ensuing years it was developed as a fortress town. It served as a frontier post and its fortified position enabled it to defend other Russian settlements from nomad attacks. Nevertheless, it was itself not always able to withstand such attacks, and was sometimes plundered and burnt down.
The city was granted
city privileges by
the Empress Catherine the Great in 1782, which is when it acquired its present name and became the seat of an
uyezd
An uezd (also spelled uyezd; rus, уе́зд, p=ʊˈjest), or povit in a Ukrainian context ( uk, повіт), or Kreis in Baltic-German context, was a type of administrative subdivision of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Russian Empire, and the ea ...
. The present name is taken from a large
kurgan (burial mound) close to the original settlement.
Its coat of arms was granted on 17 March 1785, and it became the administrative center of Kurgan Oblast in 1943. Kurgan was awarded the
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...
in 1982.
Administrative and municipal status
Kurgan is the
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
of the
oblast
An oblast (; ; Cyrillic (in most languages, including Russian and Ukrainian): , Bulgarian: ) is a type of administrative division of Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the Soviet Union and the Kingdom of ...
.
[Law #316] Within the
framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Kurgan
City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the
districts.
As a
municipal division, Kurgan City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Kurgan Urban Okrug.
[Law #419]
Economy and military
Kurgan stands on the
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR; , , ) connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the ea ...
line, between
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg ( ; rus, Екатеринбург, p=jɪkətʲɪrʲɪnˈburk), alternatively romanized as Ekaterinburg and formerly known as Sverdlovsk ( rus, Свердло́вск, , svʲɪrˈdlofsk, 1924–1991), is a city and the administra ...
and
Omsk
Omsk (; rus, Омск, p=omsk) is the administrative center and largest city of Omsk Oblast, Russia. It is situated in southwestern Siberia, and has a population of over 1.1 million. Omsk is the third largest city in Siberia after Novosibirsk ...
. It is served by two railway stations and the
Kurgan Airport, and it was home to the
Kurgan West
Kurgan West was an air base in Russia located 25 km west of Kurgan
A kurgan is a type of tumulus constructed over a grave, often characterized by containing a single human body along with grave vessels, weapons and horses. Originally in u ...
air base during the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
. It is also home to
, KAvZ autobus plant, and the machine building company
Kurganmashzavod
JSC Kurganmashzavod (russian: Курганмашзавод; Kurganian Vehicle Plant) is a manufacturing company based in Kurgan, Russia. It is known for its BMP series of infantry fighting vehicles.
Overview
The company's main products are the ...
which produces the widely known
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, in service 1966–present. BMP stands for ''Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty 1'' (russian: link=no, Боевая Машина Пехоты 1; БМП-1), meaning "infantry fighting ve ...
,
BMP-2
The BMP-2 (''Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty'', , literally "combat machine/vehicle (of the) infantry") is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s.
Development hist ...
and
BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.
Climate
Kurgan has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''Dfb''). Influenced by the
Siberian High
The Siberian High (also Siberian Anticyclone; russian: Азиатский антициклон (''Aziatsky antitsiklon'')) is a massive collection of cold dry air that accumulates in the northeastern part of Eurasia from September until April. It ...
, it is a relatively dry climate. Winters are cold, although not severe by Siberian standards. Summers are variable but relatively moderate, even though heat waves can bring temperatures well above the average July highs.
Educational facilities
*Agricultural academy
*
Kurgan State University
Kurgan State University (russian: Курганский государственный университет) is a university in Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast of Russia. It was established in 1995 in accordance with presidential decree № 990 on 30 Septe ...
*Kurgan International University
*Military Academy
*Railroad Academy
*Various theaters
*Academy of Labor and Social Relations
Gallery
Kurgan. Lenin Square (WR).tif,
Marshal Golikov avenue Kurgan.jpg, Marshal Golikov avenue
Philarmony Kurgan.jpg,
Drama theatre Kurgan.jpg,
Г. Курган - panoramio (60).jpg, Cinema "Rossiya"
Куйбышева 19 Дом Кюхельбекера.JPG, Wilhelm Küchelbecker
Wilhelm Ludwig von Küchelbecker ( rus, Вильге́льм Ка́рлович Кюхельбе́кер, p=kʲʉxʲɪlʲˈbʲekʲɪr, tr. ; in St. Petersburg – in Tobolsk) was a Russian Romantic poet and Decembrist revolutionary of Ger ...
house museum
Theotokos of Port Arthur church Kurgan.jpg, Russian Orthodox Church
, native_name_lang = ru
, image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg
, imagewidth =
, alt =
, caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia
, abbreviation = ROC
, type ...
Theotokos of Port Arthur church
Храм Александра Невского. Город Курган.jpg, Russian Orthodox Church
, native_name_lang = ru
, image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg
, imagewidth =
, alt =
, caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia
, abbreviation = ROC
, type ...
Г. Курган - panoramio (59).jpg, Main post office
Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast, Russia - panoramio (2).jpg, Kurgan Airport
Вокзал станции Курган.JPG,
Г. Курган - panoramio (1).jpg, Central market
РНЦ ВТО им. Елизарова - panoramio.jpg,
Главная проходная КМЗ - panoramio.jpg, Kurganmashzavod
JSC Kurganmashzavod (russian: Курганмашзавод; Kurganian Vehicle Plant) is a manufacturing company based in Kurgan, Russia. It is known for its BMP series of infantry fighting vehicles.
Overview
The company's main products are the ...
Kurgan 2014 5.jpg, City center of culture and leisure
Климова 47 Дом Дунаева.JPG, Children's art school
Авиамузей. Су-25 и Ил-14. Курган - panoramio.jpg,
Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast, Russia - panoramio.jpg, River Tobol
The Tobol (russian: Тобол, kk, Тобыл ''Tobyl'') is a river in Western Siberia (in Kazakhstan and Russia) and the main (left) tributary of the Irtysh. Its length is , and the area of its drainage basin is .
History
The Tobol River was ...
Notable people
*
Oleg Bogomolov (born 1950), governor of Kurgan Oblast
*
Dmitri Bushmanov
Dmitri Vladimirovich Bushmanov (russian: Дмитрий Владимирович Бушманов; born 30 September 1978) is a former Russian professional footballer.
Club career
He made his debut in the Russian Premier League
The Russian ...
(born 1978), association football player
*
Maxim Fadeev
Maxim "Max" Aleksandrovich Fadeev (russian: link=no, Макси́м Алекса́ндрович Фаде́ев) (born 6 May 1968) is a Russian singer-songwriter, composer and producer.
Biography Early life and career
Maxim Fadeev was born on ...
(born 1968), singer-songwriter, composer and producer
*
Yuri Galtsev
Yuri Nikolayevich Galtsev (russian: Ю́рий Никола́евич Га́льцев; born April 12, 1961, Kurgan) is a Russian entertainer and clownery, TV presenter, parodist, singer, theater, film and television actor. Honored Artist of the ...
(born 1961), Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
*
Gavriil Ilizarov
Gavriil Abramovich Ilizarov (russian: Гавриил Абрамович Илизаров; 15 June 1921 – 24 July 1992) was a Soviet physician, known for inventing the Ilizarov apparatus for lengthening limb bones and for the method of surgery ...
(1921–1992), physician, known for inventing the Ilizarov apparatus for lengthening limb bones
*
Vyacheslav Kamoltsev (born 1971), association football player
*
Larisa Korobeynikova
Larisa Viktorovna Korobeynikova ( rus, Лариса Викторовна Коробейникова, , ɫɐˈrʲisə kərɐˈbʲeɪ̯nʲɪkəvə; born 26 March 1987) is a Russian right-handed foil fencer, 2021 team Olympic champion, 2021 indivi ...
(born 1987), fencer
*
Evgeni Krasilnikov
Evgeni Krasilnikov (russian: Евгений Витальевич Красильников; 7 April 1965 – 6 March 2014) was a Russian former volleyball player who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1988 Summer Olympics and for the Unifie ...
(1965–2014), volleyball player
*
Leonid Krasin
Leonid Borisovich Krasin (russian: Леони́д Бори́сович Кра́син; 15 July 1870 – 24 November 1926) was a Russian Soviet politician, engineer, social entrepreneur, Bolshevik revolutionary politician and a Soviet diplomat. In ...
(1870–1926), politician and diplomat
*
Ivan Kurpishev (born 1969), powerlifter
*
Dmitri Loskov
Dmitri Vyacheslavovich Loskov (russian: Дмитрий Вячеславович Лоськов; born 12 February 1974) is a Russian football coach and a former player.
A former midfielder, he was often considered Russia's best playmaker in the ...
(born 1974), association football player
*
Aleksey Markovsky
Aleksey Viktorovich Markovsky (russian: Алексей Викторович Марковский; born 17 May 1957) is a retired Russian swimmer who won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics; he finished eighth ...
(born 1957), swimmer
*
Aleksandr Menshchikov (born 1973), wrestler
*
Yana Romanova
Yana Sergeyevna Romanova (russian: Яна Сергеевна Романова; born 11 May 1983) is a retired Russian biathlete. She competed in various events at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and won a silver medal in the 4×6 km relay ...
(born 1983), biathlete
*
Sergei Rublevsky
Sergei Rublevsky (born 15 October 1974) is a Russian chess grandmaster (1994). He has won four team gold medals and one individual bronze medal at Chess Olympiads. He won the prestigious Aeroflot Open in 2004, and became the 58th Russian chess ch ...
(born 1974), chess grandmaster
*
Yulia Savicheva
Yulia Stanislavovna Savicheva (russian: link=no, Ю́лия Станисла́вовна Са́вичева; born 14 February 1987) is a Russian singer who represented Russia in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Istanbul, Turk ...
(born 1987), singer
*
Alexander Solonik
Alexander Viktorovich Solonik (russian: Алекса́ндр Ви́кторович Соло́ник) (16 October 1960 – 31 January 1997) was a Russian gangster, known for his reputation as a notorious contract killer, hitman in the Russian crim ...
(1960–1997),
Russian mobster and
hitman
Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may ...
*
Elena Temnikova
Elena Vladimirovna Temnikova (russian: link=no, Елена Владимировна Темникова; born 18 April 1985) is a Russian singer, television personality and fashion designer. She came to prominence as a contestant in the talent sh ...
(born 1985), singer
*
Sergei Teryayev (born 1994), professional ice hockey defenceman
*
Alexander Vinogradov (1930–2011), journalist and writer
*
Sergey Vinogradov (1958–2010), journalist, translator, and writer
*
Sergei Yakovlev (1925–1996), actor
*
Mikhail Znamensky
Mikhail Stepanovich Znamensky (russian: Михаи́л Степа́нович Зна́менский, 26 May 1833, Kurgan, Imperial Russia—15 March 1892, Tobolsk, Imperial Russia) was a Russian writer, memoirist, painter, caricaturist, arch ...
(1833–1892), writer, memoirist, painter, caricaturist, archeologist and ethnographer
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
Kurgan is
twinned with:
*
Appleton,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
*
Rufina
Rufina is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about east of Florence.
Rufina borders the following municipalities: Dicomano, Londa, Montemignaio, Pelago, Pontassieve, Pratove ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
References
Notes
Sources
*
*
External links
Official website of KurganKurgan news portalCultural heritage of Kurgan
{{Authority control
1662 establishments in Russia
Populated places established in 1662
Kurgansky Uyezd
Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour