Sokol () is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in the center of

Vologda Oblast Vologda Oblast (, ; ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is Vologda. The oblast has a population of 1,202,444 (Russian Census (2010), 2010 Census). The largest city is Cherepovets, t ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

, located on both banks of the Sukhona River. Population: .

History

The village of Sokolovo () existed on this location since at least 1615. Since 1796, the village was part of

Kadnikovsky Uyezd Kadnikovsky Uyezd () was one of the subdivisions of the Vologda Governorate of the Russian Empire. It was situated in the southwestern part of the governorate. Its administrative centre was Kadnikov. In terms of present-day administrative borders, ...

Vologda Governorate Vologda Governorate (), also known as the Government of Vologda, was an administrative-territorial unit (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR, which existed from 1796 until 1929. ...

. In 1897, a paper mill was built near the village and Sokolovo became the primary place of residence of the employees of the mill. In November 1923, the Vologda Executive Committee decreed to create Sverdlovsko-Sukhonsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Sokol; however, the decision was not approved by the central authorities, and the district was never created. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, the governorates merged into

Northern Krai Northern Krai () was an administrative-territorial unit (''krai'') of the Russian SFSR from 1929 to 1936. Its seat was in the city of Arkhangelsk. The krai was located in the north of European Russia, and its territory is currently divided betwe ...

, and Sverdlovsky District with the administrative center in the work settlement of Sokol was established among others. It became a part of Vologda Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1932, Sokol was granted town status, and the district was renamed Sokolsky.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Sokol serves as the

administrative center An administrative centre 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 the administrative language, such as Belgiu ...

of Sokolsky District, even though it is not a part of it.Resolution #178 As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the town of oblast significance of Sokol (one of the four in the oblast)—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the

districts A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

.Law #371-OZ As a municipal division, the town of oblast significance of Sokol is incorporated within Sokolsky Municipal District as Sokol Urban Settlement.Law #1121-OZ

Economy

Industry

The town is home to two large paper mills (''Sukhonsky Tsellyulozno-Bumazhny Kombinat'' and ''Sokolsky Tsellyulozno-Bumazhny Kombinat'').

Transportation

Sukhona railway station on the railway connecting

Vologda Vologda (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the river Vologda (river), Vologda within the watershed of the Northern Dvina. Population: The city serves as ...

and

Arkhangelsk Arkhangelsk (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina near its mouth into the White Sea. The city spreads for over along the ...

is located in Sokol. One of the principal highways in Russia, M8, which connects

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

and

, crosses Sokolsky District passing Sokol. Other roads connect Sokol with

Kharovsk Kharovsk () is a town and the administrative center of Kharovsky District in Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kubena River, north of Vologda, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: History In 1894, the ...

and Ustye. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Sokol. Sukhona is navigable in Sokol; however, there is no passenger navigation.

Culture and recreation

Sokol hosts the Sokol District Museum, one of the two museums in Sokolsky District.

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Sokol is twinned with: * Tutayev, Russia *

Valkeakoski Valkeakoski (; lit. "white rapids") is a town and municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland. It is located south of Tampere, north of Hämeenlinna and north of Helsinki in the Pirkanmaa regions of Finland, region. The municipality has ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

References

Notes

Sources

* * * {{Authority control Cities and towns in Vologda Oblast Kadnikovsky Uyezd Populated places in Sokolsky District, Vologda Oblast Former urban-type settlements of Vologda Oblast