Kirov (city)

Kirov (??????), formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in north-eastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, capital of Kirov Oblast. Geographical location {{coor dm|58|36|N|49|39|E|}}. Population (1999): 465,000.

Related Topics:
Russia - Vyatka River - Kirov Oblast

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The fort of Khlynov, situated just west from the Ural Mountains, was founded by Novgorodian entrepreneurs in 1374. It is first mentioned as town in documents from 1457. Khlynov was incorporated into Muscovy in 1489. The town's oldest surviving monument, the 4-domed Assumption Cathedral, was built in 1689.

Related Topics:
Ural Mountains - Novgorod - 1374 - 1457 - Muscovy - 1489 - 1689

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In 1781 Catherine the Great renamed Khlynov to Vyatka and made it a centre of separate guberniya. The town also served as a place of exile, notably for Alexander Herzen and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. By the end of the 19th century, it was an important station on the Trans-Siberian railway. In December 1934, it was renamed after the Soviet leader Sergey Kirov, who had been assassinated earlier the same year.

Related Topics:
1781 - Catherine the Great - Guberniya - Alexander Herzen - Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin - Trans-Siberian railway - December - 1934 - Sergey Kirov

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Kirov is a major transportation hub (rail and highways; Trans-Siberian main) and river port; airport. Large center of machine building; metallurgy, light, printing trade. Kirov has several museums, universities and theaters, as well as an opera and a ballet stage. According to a report in Pravda dated 4 January 2005, Kirov is known as the "city of twins" for the unusually high number of multiple births there.

Related Topics:
River port - Pravda - 4 January - 2005

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