Ostrov (russian: О́стров, lit. ''island'') is a
town 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
Ostrovsky District in
Pskov Oblast,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eight ...
, located on the
Velikaya River
The Velikaya () is a river in Novosokolnichesky, Pustoshkinsky, Sebezhsky, Opochetsky, Pushkinogorsky, Ostrovsky, Palkinsky, and Pskovsky Districts of Pskov Oblast, as well as in the city of Pskov in Russia. It is a major tributary of La ...
, south of
Pskov, the administrative center of the
oblast. Population: 27,000 (1974).
Etymology
The name of the town, which means "island" in Russian, originates from the island on the Velikaya, on which the Ostrov fortress was originally built.
History
It was founded as a fortress in the end of the 13th century and first mentioned in 1342.
It had been an important military outpost throughout the 15th-16th centuries.
The only time it was conquered was in 1501, by the
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order,
formed in 1237. From 1435 to 1561 it was a member of the Livonian Confederation.
History
The order was formed from the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword after ...
after the
Battle of the Siritsa River.
In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great, it was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
Saint Petersburg Governorate). Ostrov is specifically mentioned as one of the towns making the governorate.
[Указ об учреждении губерний и о росписании к ним городов](_blank)
In 1727, separate
Novgorod Governorate
Novgorod Governorate (Pre-reformed rus, Новгоро́дская губе́рнія, r=Novgorodskaya guberniya, p=ˈnofɡərətskəjə ɡʊˈbʲernʲɪjə, t=Government of Novgorod), was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Ru ...
was split off and in 1772,
Pskov Governorate
Pskov Governorate (russian: link=no, Псковская губерния, ''Pskovskaya guberniya'') was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and Russian SFSR, which existed from 1772 until 1777 and from 1796 until ...
(which between 1777 and 1796 existed as
Pskov Viceroyalty
Pskov Viceroyalty (russian: Псковское наме́стничество) was an administrative division (a ''namestnichestvo'') of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1777–1796. The seat of the Viceroyalty was located in Pskov. Both the ...
) was established.
Catherine the Great
, en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes
, house =
, father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
, mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp
, birth_date =
, birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...
incorporated it as a town in 1777.
On August 1, 1927, the uyezds and governorates were abolished and Ostrovsky District, with 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 ...
in Ostrov, was established as a part of
Pskov Okrug
Pskov ( rus, Псков, a=pskov-ru.ogg, p=pskof; see also names in other languages) is a city in northwestern Russia and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, located about east of the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population ...
of
Leningrad Oblast.
[''Administrative-Territorial Structure of Pskov Oblast'', pp. 11–14] It included parts of former
Ostrovsky,
Opochetsky, and
Pskovsky Uyezd
Pskovsky Uyezd (''Псковский уезд'') was one of the subdivisions of the Pskov Governorate of the Russian Empire. It was situated in the northwestern part of the governorate. Its administrative centre was Pskov.
Demographics
At the tim ...
s.
On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.
Between March 22, 1935 and September 19, 1940, Ostrovsky District was a part of the restored Pskov Okrug of Leningrad Oblast,
one of the okrugs abutting the state boundaries of the
Soviet Union. Between July 6, 1941 and July 21, 1944, Ostrov was occupied by
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
troops.
An underground resistance group was active in Ostrov during the war. On August 23, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Pskov Oblast.
Administrative and municipal status
Within the
framework of administrative divisions, Ostrov serves as 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
Ostrovsky District,
to which it is directly subordinated.
[Law #833-oz stipulates that the borders of the administrative districts are identical to the borders of the municipal districts. The Law #420-oz, which describes the borders and the composition of the municipal districts, lists the town of Ostrov as a part of Ostrovsky District.] As a
municipal division, the
town of Ostrov is incorporated within Ostrovsky Municipal District as Ostrov Urban Settlement.
[Law #420-oz]
Economy
Industry
The economy of Ostrov is based on food, electronic, and textile industries (5.4%).
Transportation
A railway from
St. Petersburg via
Pskov to
Pytalovo
Pytalovo (russian: Пыта́лово; lv, Pitalova) is a town and the administrative center of Pytalovsky District in Pskov Oblast, Russia, located on the Utroya River (a tributary of the Velikaya), southwest of Pskov, the administrative ...
and further to
Rēzekne
Rēzekne (, ; German: ''Rositten'') is a state city in the Rēzekne River valley in Latgale region of eastern Latvia. It is called ''The Heart of Latgale'' (Latvian ''Latgales sirds'', Latgalian ''Latgolys sirds''). Built on seven hills, Rēze ...
in
Latvia passes Ostrov. In Latvia, it provides access to
Riga and
Vilnius (via
Daugavpils). As of 2012, there was passenger traffic on the railway.
The
M20 Highway, which connects St. Petersburg and
Vitebsk via Pskov, passes Ostrov as well. Ostrov is the northern terminus of the
European route E262, which proceeds to
Kaunas via Rēzekne and Daugavpils. There are also road connections from Ostrov northwest to
Pechory via
Palkino, northeast to
Porkhov
Porkhov (russian: По́рхов) is a town and the administrative center of Porkhovsky District in Pskov Oblast, Russia, located on the Shelon River, east of Pskov, the administrative center of the oblast. Population:
History
The fortr ...
, and southeast to
Novorzhev
Novorzhev (russian: Новорже́в) is a town and the administrative center of Novorzhevsky District in Pskov Oblast, Russia, located on the Sorot River southeast of Pskov, the administrative center of the oblast. Population:
History
It w ...
, as well as local roads.
Military
The town was home to
Ostrov air base, a major medium-range bomber base during the
Cold War.
Culture and recreation
The town possesses a Neoclassical cathedral from 1790 and a typical Pskovian church from 1543. Close at hand is a historical
suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridges, which lack vertical ...
, opened in 1853
winter view.
Ostrov hosts the
Ostrov District Museum, the only museum in the district.
References
Notes
Sources
*
*
*Архивный отдел Псковского облисполкома. Государственный архив Псковской области. "Административно-территориальное деление Псковской области (1917–1988 гг.). Справочник". (''Administrative-Territorial Structure of Pskov Oblast (1917–1988). Reference.'') Книга I. Лениздат, 1988.
External links
The murder of the Jews of Ostrovduring
World War II, at
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem ( he, יָד וַשֵׁם; literally, "a memorial and a name") is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Jews who were murdered; honoring Jews who fought against th ...
website.
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Pskov Oblast
Ostrovsky Uyezd
Holocaust locations in Russia