Coat of arms Flag City Day observed in June Area 169.7 km² Local time Wednesday 8:29 PM | Anthem none Founded 1181 Population 480,594 (2012) | |
 | ||
Weather -1°C, Wind S at 21 km/h, 83% Humidity Points of interest Alexander Garden, Park im Kirova, Tryfonowski Monaster Zaśnięcia, Kirov State Circus, Vyatka Paleontological Museum Colleges and Universities Vyatka State University, Vyatka State University, Kirov State Medical Academy, Vyatka State Agricultur, Kirov Medical College | ||
Kirov (Russian: Киров; [ˈkʲirəf]), formerly known as Vyatka (Вя́тка) and Khlynov (Хлы́нов), is a city and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyatka River. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 473,695.
Contents
- Map of Kirov Kirovskaya Oblast Russia
- History
- Administrative and municipal status
- Economy
- Museums
- Theaters
- Circus
- Sports
- Education
- Climate
- Twin towns and sister cities
- Notable people
- References
Map of Kirov, Kirovskaya Oblast, Russia
History
Khlynov was first mentioned in 1374. It was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1489 and became known throughout Russia for its clay statuettes and whistles. It was also managed by Khanate of Kazan and was known as "Hılın". The town's oldest surviving monument is the Assumption Cathedral (1689), an imposing structure surmounted by five globular domes.
In 1780, Catherine the Great renamed the town Vyatka and made it the seat of Vyatka Governorate. The town also served as a place of exile, notably for Alexander Herzen, Alexander Vitberg, 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 for the Soviet leader Sergey Kirov, who had been assassinated on December 1. However, whilst the name Kirov has remained since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, numerous institutions such as the university bear the former name of Vyatka.
Administrative and municipal status
Kirov is the administrative center of the oblast. Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with 134 rural localities, incorporated as the City of Kirov—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the City of Kirov is incorporated as Kirov Urban Okrug.
Economy
Kirov is a major transport hub (railway; Trans-Siberian main) and river port. It is served by Kirov Pobedilovo airport. During the 1990s this airport was closed and for several years provided only irregular service. During the 2003-2006 summer seasons there were signs of a revival in air transportation as several companies attempted to establish flight routes from Kirov to Moscow and Krasnodar. Since 2006 Kirov airport has been used by a local company operating flights to Moscow.
The Kirov River port went bankrupt in the late 1990s and all its river boats were sold to other regions. Kirov is a center of machine building; metallurgy, light, the printing trade, biochemical and the timber industry.
Museums
Vyatka Museum of Art, one of the oldest museums in Russia, was founded in 1910 by local artists.
The idea of creation belongs to natives of Vyatka land, brothers artists Viktor Vasnetsov and Apollinary Vasnetsov. At the core of the collection — works that received the most part in the 1910-1920s from the State Museum Fund, private collections and as gifts — from patrons and artists. Today the museum has more than fifteen thousand exhibits and is located in four buildings in Kirov downtown.
Theaters
Circus
According to a report in Pravda dated January 4, 2005, Kirov is known as the "city of twins" for the unusually high number of multiple births there.
According to a report, the city is home to a high concentration of red-haired individuals.
Sports
Rodina plays in the highest division of Russian Bandy League. Their home arena has a capacity of 7500. It will be the venue of the national final in 2013.
Education
Kirov is the home of Vyatka University, Vyatka University for the Humanities, Vyatka Agricultural Academy and Kirov State Medical Academy.
Climate
Kirov has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb).
Twin towns and sister cities
Kirov is twinned with: