Smolensk Oblast

Smolensk Oblast
Smolensk Oblast; Смоленская область
	— Oblast —
	Building of Smolensk Oblast Government
; Flag	; Coat of arms of Smolensk Oblast
	Smolensk Oblast in Russia
	Coordinates: 55°00′N 33°00′E / 55, 33Coordinates: 55°00′N 33°00′E / 55, 33
Country	Russia
Federal subject of Russia	Smolensk Oblast
Federal district	Central
Economic Region	Central
Administrative center	Smolensk
Basic law	Charter of Smolensk Oblast
Established	September 27, 1937
	Government
• Type	Legislature
• Body	Oblast Duma
• Governor	Sergei Vladimirovich Antufyev
	Area
• Oblast	49,800 km2 (19,200 sq mi)
Area rank	53nd
	Population (2010)
• Oblast	985,481
• Rank	53th
• Urban	72.7%
• Rural	27.3%
Time zone	MST
ISO 3166 code	RU-SMO
Vehicle registration	67
Website	http://admin-smolensk.ru/

Smolensk Oblast (Russian: Смол́енская о́бласть, Smolenskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its area is 49,800 square kilometers (19,200 sq mi).^[1] Population: 985,481 (2010 Census);^[2] 1,049,574 (2002 Census);^[3] 1,158,299 (1989 Census).^[4]

History[]

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Smolensk was one of the most important economic and military centers of the Grand Princedom of Moscow. It was also a major commercial center, and home industry production reached high levels. Construction of the Smolensk fortress wall was an important event in the history of Russia. Smolensk Oblast was formed in September 1937 from the central and western districts of Western Oblast as the result of a reorganization of the latter oblast. The new oblast exceeded present-day Smolensk Oblast in both population and area.

Geography[]

The administrative center of Smolensk Oblast is the city of Smolensk. Other ancient towns include Vyazma and Dorogobuzh.

The oblast was founded on September 27, 1937.^[1] It borders Pskov Oblast in the north, Tver Oblast in the northeast, Moscow Oblast in the east, Kaluga and Bryansk Oblasts in the south, and Mogilev and Oblasts of Belarus, in the west and northwest.

Climate[]

Smolensk Oblast has a temperate continental climate with warm summers and moderately cold winters. The climate is influenced by moist Atlantic air, but inflows of Arctic air masses are possible at any time of year. Winds are mainly from the west, southwest, and south; and the relative humidity is 81%. The average January temperature is −9.4 °C (15 °F), and the average July temperature is 17.1 °C (62.8 °F); average annual precipitation is 600 millimeters (24 in).

Administrative divisions[]

Main article: Administrative divisions of Smolensk Oblast

Smolensk admin divisions — Administrative divisions of Smolensk Oblast

Smolensk Oblast is divided into 25 rayons (districts]] and 2 cities, which are further divided into 15 towns, 12 urban-type settlements, and 302 rural okrugs.

Urban Okrugs (Circles)

№	Coat of Arms	Name of Urban okrug	Area (km²)	Population (2010).	Population Rank
I		Smolensk	288.5	326 863	1
II	-	Desnogorsk	43.0	31 063	2

Velizh

Vyazma

Gagarin

Glinka

Demidov

Dorogobuzh

Dukhovshchina

Yelnya

Yershichi

Kardymovo

Krasnyi

Monastyrshchina

Novodugino

Pochinok

Roslavl

Rudnya

Safonovo

Smolensk

Sychyovka

Tyomkino

Ugra

Khislavichi

Kholm-Zhirkovsky

Shumyachi

Yartsevo

Rayons (Districts):

№	Coat of Arms	Name of rayon	Area (km²)	Area rank	Population '000 (2010)	Population rank	Аdministrative center	Population '000 (2010)
1		Velizh Rayon	1473.0	19	12,217	15	Velizh	7,326
2		Vyazma Rayon	3352.7	1	78,057	1	Vyazma	54,645
3		Gagarin Rayon	2904.0	3	40,631	6	Gagarin	25,774
4		Glinka Rayon	1223.2	22	4,974	25	Glinka	2,000
5		Demidov Rayon	2512.2	7	14,932	11	Demidov	7,782
6		Dorogobuzh Rayon	1772.0	15	29,082	8	Dorogobuzh	11,089
7		Dukhovshchina Rayon	2610.0	6	16,495	10	Dukhovshchina	4,103
8		Yelnya Rayon	1808.2	13	14,769	12	Yelnya	9,910
9	-	Yershichi	1039.0	25	7,657	23	Yershichi	3,444
10	-	Kardymovo Rayon	1095.3	24	11,310	17	Kardymovo	5,145
11		Krasnyi Rayon	1507.7	18	13,700	13	Krasnyi	4,515
12		Monastzrshchina Rayon	1513.8	17	11,043	18	Monastyrshchina	3,921
13		Novodugino Rayon	1935.0	12	10,411	20	Novodugino	3,865
14	-	Pochinok Rayon	2380.8	8	33,751	7	Pochinok	8,975
15		Roslavl Rayon	3000.0	2	74,476	2	Roslavl	53,678
16		Rudnya Rayon	2111.0	10	24,551	9	Rudnya	10,029
17		Safonovo Rayon	2258.0	9	58,871	3	Safonovo	43,486
18		Smolensk Rayon	2895.0	5	45,081	5	Smolensk	-
19		Sychyovka Rayon	1791.1	14	13,405	14	Sychyovka	7,512
20		Tyomkino Rayon	1324.2	21	6,258	24	Tyomkino	2,692
21		Ugra Rayon	2900.0	4	9.599	22	Ugra	4,510
22	-	Khislavichi Rayon	1161.0	23	9,913	21	Khislavichi	4,325
23		Kholm-Zhirkovsky Rayon	2033.4	11	10,943	19	Kholm-Zhirkovsky	3,470
24	-	Shumyachi Rayon	1367.7	20	11,413	16	Shumyachi	4,387
25		Yartsevo Rayon	1618.9	16	55,903	4	Yartsevo	48,829

Demographics[]

According to the (2002 Census), the national composition of the oblast was as follows:

Russians: 93.4%
Ukrainians: 1.7%
Belarusians: 1.6%
Armenians: 0.4%
Gypsies: 0.3%
Tatars: 0.2%
Azeris: 0.2%,

and many other groups, none more than 0.2% of the population. (1.1% of the population did not state their nationality in the census.)

Economy[]

Smolensk Oblast is part of Russia's Central economic district. Industry in this district includes sectors such as engineering and metalworking (production of measuring and hydrometeorological devices, computer equipment, electrical appliances, refrigerators, automobiles, power-generating and store equipment, and aircraft manufacture), the chemical industry (production of ammonia, saltpeter, fertilizers, and plastics), light industry (production of clothing, and cotton and linen fabrics), the food industry, and brown coal and peat production.

Nearly 40% of the industrial production potential is concentrated in the city of Smolensk. Diamond cutting companies have the largest share of GDP. The largest of these companies is the Kristall State Unitary enterprise (GUP Kristall) in Smolensk. Smolensk is also a major center of the engineering and metalworking industries, with the instrument-making, electronics, electrical, and auto industries having the largest share of GDP among engineering companies.

Notable people[]

Isaac Asimov, born in Petrovichi
Yuri Gagarin, born in Klushino
Shmuel Schneersohn, born in Lyubavichi

References[]

^ ^a ^b Исполнительный комитет Смоленского областного совета народных депутатов. Государственный архив Смоленской области. "Административно-территориальное устройство Смоленской области. Справочник", изд. "Московский рабочий", Москва 1981. Стр. 8
^ "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1)]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census). Federal State Statistics Service. 2011. http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612.htm. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
^ "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. May 21, 2004. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
^ Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. [All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers]" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

External links[]

(English) Official website of Smolensk Oblast.
(Russian) News of Smolensk Oblast

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Smolensk Oblast. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.

[ATS1981-1] Исполнительный комитет Смоленского областного совета народных депутатов. Государственный архив Смоленской области. "Административно-территориальное устройство Смоленской области. Справочник", изд. "Московский рабочий", Москва 1981. Стр. 8

[2010Census-2] "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1)]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census). Federal State Statistics Service. 2011. http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612.htm. Retrieved June 29, 2012.

[PopCensus-3] "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. May 21, 2004. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

[Census1989-4] Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. [All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers]" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

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