Volkhov Explained

En Name:Volkhov
Ru Name:Волхов
Coordinates:59.9167°N 50°W
Image Coa:Coat of Arms of Volkhov (Leningrad oblast).png
Federal Subject:Leningrad Oblast
Adm District Jur:Volkhovsky District
Adm Selsoviet Jur:Volkhovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation
Adm Selsoviet Type:Settlement municipal formation
Adm Ctr Of1:Volkhovsky District
Adm Ctr Of2:Volkhovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation
Inhabloc Cat:Town
Mun District Jur:Volkhovsky Municipal District
Urban Settlement Jur:Volkhovskoye Urban Settlement
Mun Admctr Of1:Volkhovsky Municipal District
Mun Admctr Of2:Volkhovskoye Urban Settlement
Pop 2024Census:37539
Pop 2024Census Ref:[1]
Established Date:Beginning of
the 20th century
Current Cat Date:December 27, 1933
Postal Codes:187401–187404, 187406, 187409
Dialing Codes:81363

Volkhov (Russian: Во́лхов) is an industrial town and the administrative center of Volkhovsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the river Volkhov 122km (76miles) east of St. Petersburg. Population:

It was previously known as Zvanka (until December 27, 1933), Volkhovstroy (until April 11, 1940).

History

The town developed during the industrialization in the first half of the 20th century.[2] The settlement of Zvanka (Russian: Званка) with a train depot was built here while the railway connecting St. Petersburg with Vologda was being constructed. It was a part of Novoladozhsky Uyezd of St. Petersburg Governorate. A second rail line running north of the station towards Murmansk was constructed in 1916, making the station an important railway junction. In 1918, construction of the Volkhov Hydroelectric Station (the first in the Soviet Union) started on this spot. In 1926, the power plant became operational and in 1932, the first Soviet aluminum plant was launched nearby.

On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Volkhovsky District, with the administrative center in Zvanka, was established.[3] The governorates were also abolished and the district became a part of Leningrad Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On August 15, 1930, the okrugs were abolished as well and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[4] On December 27, 1933, the settlements serving the station, the dam, and the aluminum plant were merged with several adjacent villages to form the town of Volkhovstroy. On September 19, 1939, Volkhovstroy became a town of oblast significance and on April 11, 1940, it was renamed Volkhov. During World War II, between 1941 and 1944, the Volkhov River separated the Soviet and the German positions, and Volkhov was a battleground scene. The city itself was never occupied by German troops, and in December 1941 the advance of the German troops to Volkhov was stopped by the Red Army.[5]

In 2010, the administrative structure of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with its municipal structure[6] and Volkhov became a town of district significance.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Volkhov serves as the administrative center of Volkhovsky District.[7] As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Volkhovsky District as Volkhovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation. As a municipal division, Volkhovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation is incorporated within Volkhovsky Municipal District as Volkhovskoye Urban Settlement.[8]

Economy

Industry

The economy of Volkhov is essentially based on the Volkhov Hydroelectric Station and on the aluminum production plant.[9]

Transportation

Volkhov (railway stations Volkhovstroy I and Volkhovstroy II) is an important railway hub. One railway line connects in with St. Petersburg (Moskovsky Rail Terminal), and Volkhovstroy I is the terminal station of suburban trains from St. Petersburg. To the east, a railway line continues to Vologda via Tikhvin and Cherepovets. Another railway line passing through Volkhov connects Chudovo in the south and Lodeynoye Pole, Petrozavodsk, and ultimately Murmansk in the north. In Chudovo, it connects to railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow, so that all traffic between Moscow and Murmansk proceeds via Volkhovstroy.

Volkhov is located on the road connecting Kiselnya on the M18 Highway, which connects St. Petersburg and Murmansk, and Tikhvin, Cherepovets and Vologda. Volkhov is also connected by roads with Kirishi and with Novaya Ladoga. There are also local roads, with bus traffic originating from Volkhov.

The Volkhov River is navigable; however, there is no passenger navigation.

Culture and recreation

The district contains five cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally seventeen objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federal monuments are the Volkhov Hydroelectric station, the monument to Genrikh Graftio, the head of the construction of the power plant, the first building of the aluminum plant, as well as the houses where Graftio and Boris Vedeneyev, who was also leading the power plant construction, lived.

Twin towns and sister cities

See main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia.

Volkhov is twinned with:

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. https://78.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/ЛО%20числ%20на%2001.01.2024%20по%20МО.pdf
  2. Book: Энциклопедия Города России. 2003. Большая Российская Энциклопедия. Moscow. 5-7107-7399-9. 90–91.
  3. Web site: http://classif.spb.ru/sprav/np_lo/38_Volchovsky_rayon.htm. ru:Волховский район (август 1927 г.). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. ru. March 17, 2014.
  4. Web site: 00344 . ru:Ленинградская область. Справочник по истории Коммунистической партии и Советского Союза 1898 - 1991. ru. 17 March 2014.
  5. Web site: http://blokada.otrok.ru/towns.php?t=12. ru:Волхов. Гришина Л.И., Файнштейн Л.А., Великанова Г.Я.. Памятные Места Ленинградской Области. 1973. Lenizdat. ru. 6 May 2018.
  6. Web site: http://msu.lenobl.ru/news?id=38614. ru:Отчет о работе комитета по взаимодействию с органами местного самоуправления Ленинградской области в 2010 году. Комитет по печати и связям с общественностью Ленинградской области. ru. November 16, 2012.
  7. Oblast Law #32-oz
  8. Law #56-oz
  9. Web site: http://szo.spr.ru/volhov-i-volhovskiy-rayon/. ru:Справочник "Волхов". SPR. ru. December 12, 2012.