Smolensky District, Smolensk Oblast
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Smolensky District (russian: Смоле́нский райо́н) is an administrativeResolution #261 and municipalLaw #135-z district (
raion A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is co ...
), one of the
twenty-five Twenty-Five or 25 may refer to: *25 (number), the natural number following 24 and preceding 26 * one of the years 25 BC, AD 25, 1925, 2025 Music * ''Twenty Five'' (album), a 2006 greatest hits album by George Michael ** ''Twenty Five'' (DVD), rel ...
in
Smolensk Oblast Smolensk Oblast (russian: Смоле́нская о́бласть, ''Smolenskaya oblast''; informal name — ''Smolenschina'' (russian: Смоле́нщина)) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative centre is the city 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 ...
. It is located in the west 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 ...
and borders with
Demidovsky District Demidovsky District (russian: Деми́довский райо́н) is an administrativeResolution #261 and municipalLaw #131-z district (raion), one of the administrative divisions of Smolensk Oblast, twenty-five in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It ...
in the north,
Dukhovshchinsky District Dukhovshchinsky District (russian: Духовщи́нский райо́н) is an administrativeResolution #261 and municipalLaw #105-z district (raion), one of the twenty-five in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the north of the oblast ...
in the northeast,
Kardymovsky District Kardymovsky District (russian: Карды́мовский райо́н) is an administrativeResolution #261 and municipalLaw #87-z district (raion), one of the twenty-five in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the center of the oblast and bo ...
in the east,
Pochinkovsky District Pochinkovsky District is the name of several administrative and municipal districts in Russia: * Pochinkovsky District, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, an administrative and municipal district of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast *Pochinkovsky District, Smolensk O ...
in the south,
Monastyrshchinsky District Monastyrshchinsky District (russian: Монасты́рщинский райо́н) is an administrativeResolution #261 and municipalLaw #89-z district (raion), one of the twenty-five in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the west of the ob ...
in the southwest, Krasninsky District in the west, and with Rudnyansky District in the northwest. The area of the district is . Its
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 A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or ...
is the
city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
of
Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
(which is not administratively a part of the district). Population: 44,964 ( 2010 Census);


Geography

The district is split between the drainage basins of the
Dnieper } The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and B ...
and the
Daugava , be, Заходняя Дзвіна (), liv, Vēna, et, Väina, german: Düna , image = Fluss-lv-Düna.png , image_caption = The drainage basin of the Daugava , source1_location = Valdai Hills, Russia , mouth_location = Gulf of Riga, Baltic Se ...
. The rivers in the northern part of the district flow into the
Kasplya River The Kasplya ( Belarusian and russian: Каспля) is a river in Smolensky, Demidovsky, and Rudnyansky Districts of Smolensk Oblast of Russia and in Vitebsk Region of Belarus, and a major left tributary of the Daugava. Its length is , the firs ...
, a left tributary of the Daugava. The Kasplya has its source in the district. The Dnieper crosses the district from east to west. The southern part of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the
Sozh River The Sozh, or Sož ( be, Сож, ; russian: Сож, uk, Сож) is an international river flowing in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. It is a left bank tributary of the Dnieper. The Sozh passes through Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus. T ...
, a major left tributary of the Dnieper.


History

The area was continuously populated since prehistory due to the trading route along the Dnieper. Since the 9th century, it was always attached to the city of
Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
. The first settlement in the area, the selo of Dresna, was mentioned in chronicles under 1136; the selo of
Kasplya The Kasplya ( Belarusian and russian: Каспля) is a river in Smolensky, Demidovsky, and Rudnyansky Districts of Smolensk Oblast of Russia and in Vitebsk Region of Belarus, and a major left tributary of the Daugava. Its length is , the firs ...
was mentioned under 1150. In 1580, after the
Livonian War The Livonian War (1558–1583) was the Russian invasion of Old Livonia, and the prolonged series of military conflicts that followed, in which Tsar Ivan the Terrible of Russia (Muscovy) unsuccessfully fought for control of the region (pre ...
, the area was transferred to Poland. In 1667, according to the
Truce of Andrusovo The Truce of Andrusovo ( pl, Rozejm w Andruszowie, russian: Андрусовское перемирие, ''Andrusovskoye Pieriemiriye'', also sometimes known as Treaty of Andrusovo) established a thirteen-and-a-half year truce, signed in 1667 be ...
, it was transferred back to Russia. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great Peter I ( – ), most commonly known as Peter the Great,) or Pyotr Alekséyevich ( rus, Пётр Алексе́евич, p=ˈpʲɵtr ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ, , group=pron was a Russian monarch who ruled the Tsardom of Russia from t ...
, the area was included into
Smolensk Governorate Smolensk Governorate (russian: Смоленская губерния, Smolenskaja gubernija), or the Government of Smolensk, was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Tsardom of Russia, the Russian Empire, and the Russian SFSR. It ex ...
and remained there until 1929, with the exception of the brief period between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into
Smolensk Viceroyalty Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
. The area was split between Dukhovshchinsky, Krasninsky, Porechsky, and
Smolensky Uyezd Smolensky Uyezd (''Смоленский уезд'') was one of the subdivisions of the Smolensk Governorate of the Russian Empire. It was situated in the central part of the governorate. Its administrative centre was Smolensk. Demographics At the t ...
s. On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and three districts were established in the area: Grinyovsky, Kardymovsky, and Katynsky Districts. All three district had their administrative center in the city of
Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
and belonged to
Smolensk Okrug Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
of
Western Oblast Western Oblast (russian: Западная область, ''Zapadnaya oblast'') was an ''oblast'' (a first-level administrative and municipal unit) of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1929 to 1937. Its seat was in the city ...
. On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. In 1930 these three districts were merged into newly established Smolensky District with the administrative center in Smolensk. On 27 September 1937 Western Oblast was abolished and split between
Oryol Oryol ( rus, Орёл, p=ɐˈrʲɵl, lit. ''eagle''), also transliterated as Orel or Oriol, is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast situated on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow. It is part of the Central Fed ...
and Smolensk Oblasts. Smolensky District was transferred to Smolensk Oblast. Between 1941 and 1943, during WWII, the district was occupied by German troops. Kardymovsky District was restored in 1935 and abolished again in 1963, during the abortive Khrushchyov administrative reform, and split between Smolensky and Yartsevsky Districts. In 1977, it was re-established. Similarly, in 1963 Krasninsky District was abolished and merged into Smolensky District. It was re-established in 1965. On 12 July 1929, Kasplyansky District with the administrative center in the selo of Kasplya was established. It belonged to Smolensk Okrug of Western Oblast. In 1932 it was abolished and split between Demidovsky, Dukhovshchinsky, Rudnyandky, and Smolensky Districts. In 1938, Kasplyansky District was re-established, and in 1961, it was abolished again and merged into Smolensky District.


Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Smolensky District is one of the
twenty-five Twenty-Five or 25 may refer to: *25 (number), the natural number following 24 and preceding 26 * one of the years 25 BC, AD 25, 1925, 2025 Music * ''Twenty Five'' (album), a 2006 greatest hits album by George Michael ** ''Twenty Five'' (DVD), rel ...
in the oblast. The city of
Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...
serves as its
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 A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or ...
, despite being incorporated separately as an urban okrug—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Smolensky Municipal District. Smolensk Urban Okrug is incorporated separately from the districtDecision #164


Economy


Industry

There are no big industrial enterprises in the district. Small enterprises are involved into food and construction industries.


Agriculture

The main agricultural specializations in the district are cattle breeding with meat and milk production; production of pork, poultry, and eggs, and crops growing.


Transportation

The city of Smolensk is fully surrounded by Smolensky District, and all communications to Smolensk run through the district. The railway connecting Moscow and
Minsk Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
runs through the district passing Smolensk. In Smolensk, another railway to
Vitebsk Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest ci ...
and further with
Daugavpils Daugavpils (; russian: Двинск; ltg, Daugpiļs ; german: Dünaburg, ; pl, Dyneburg; see other names) is a state city in south-eastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. The parts of the c ...
via Rudnya branches off north-west. East of Smolensk, two more railway lines branch off: One runs south to
Bryansk Bryansk ( rus, Брянск, p=brʲansk) is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, situated on the River Desna, southwest of Moscow. Population: Geography Urban layout The location of the settlement was originally ass ...
via
Roslavl Roslavl (russian: Ро́славль, ) is a town and the administrative center of Roslavlsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is a road and rail junction and a market town. Population: Climate Roslavl has a warm-summer humid continenta ...
, and another onr runs north to Prechistoye. The railway line to Prechistoye does not have passenger traffic, all other lines do. The M1 highway connecting Moscow with the state border between Russia and Belarus crosses the district from east to west bypassing Smolensk from the north. The R133 highway to
Demidov The House of Demidov (russian: Деми́довы) also Demidoff, was a prominent Russian Empire, Russian noble family during the 18th and 19th centuries. Originating in the city of Tula, Russia, Tula in the 17th century, the Demidovs found suc ...
,
Velizh Velizh (russian: Ве́лиж) is a town and the administrative center of Velizhsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Western Dvina, from Smolensk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: History In ...
, and Nevel branches off north in Olsha. The R120 highway continues north to Rudnya and further across the border to Vitebsk, and south to Roslavl and Bryansk. The R135 highway runs from Smolensk to the southwest to Krasny and continues across the border to
Orsha Orsha ( be, О́рша, Во́рша, Orša, Vorša; russian: О́рша ; lt, Orša, pl, Orsza) is a city in Belarus in the Vitebsk Region, on the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers. History Orsha was first mentioned in 1067 as Rsha ...
. The Dnieper is navigable within the district, however, there is no organized navigation.


Culture and recreation

The federally protected monuments in the districts include a park in the selo of
Talashkino Talashkino (russian: Талашкино) is a selo in Smolensky District, Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located southeast of Smolensk. Talashkino is notable because in the end of the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th century it belonged to Prince ...
and an estate in the selo of Syrokorenskiye Lipki In Katyn, just west of the city of Smolensk, thousands of Polish officers were executed in 1940 by the Soviet regime. The cite currently features a memorial, built around the
Katyn war cemetery Katyn war cemetery (russian: Мемориальный комплекс «Катынь», pl, Polski Cmentarz Wojenny w Katyniu) is a Polish military cemetery located in Katyn, a small village 22 kilometres away from Smolensk, Russia, on ...
, and a museum. In Talashkino, Mariya Tenisheva opened in the end of the 19th century an artisan center, where local people were employed. Most of the buildings of the estate have been lost. Those which survived, including the Church of the Holy Spirit and the fairy-tale reconstruction by
Sergey Malyutin Sergey Vasilyevich Malyutin (russian: Сергей Васильевич Малютин; 4 October 1859 – 6 December 1937) was a Russian painter of fine crafts, (scenic) designer, illustrator and architect; initially associated with the Arts a ...
, currently host a museum.


References


Notes


Sources

* * * {{Use mdy dates, date=January 2013 Districts of Smolensk Oblast States and territories established in 1930