Volzhsky, Volgograd Oblast

History

There was no indigenous population on the site of the modern city of Volzhsky until the 18th century. The first settlers were fugitives who called themselves bezrodnye (безродные, "without kith or kin") and the village they set up had the name Bezrodnoye. In 1720, Peter the Great, noting the abundance of mulberry forests in the area, ordered building a state-run silk factory there.

Modern Volzhsky was founded in 1951. It had a population of about 10,000 at that time. In 1954, it was granted city status. Its biggest upsurge of population came for the construction of the Volga Hydroelectric Station.

Volzhsky grew around a hydroelectric power station which was built by Komsomol volunteers and by civil convict labor, who numbered almost 27,000 by 1953. Volzhsky was a city planned in a modern style with courtyard apartment blocks angled to deter hot summer winds off the steppes.

In April 2012, the work settlement of Krasnooktyabrsky, administratively subordinated to Volzhsky, and the rural locality (a settlement) of Uralsky from Sredneakhtubinsky District were merged into Volzhsky.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as the city of oblast significance of Volzhsky—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the city of oblast significance of Volzhsky is incorporated as Volzhsky Urban Okrug.

Industry

The main enterprises in the city are Volga GES (a hydroelectric station), Volzhsky Trubny Zavod (producing steel pipes), Volzhsky Khimvolokno (chemical fibers), Volzhsky Orgsintez (chemical products), Volzhskrezinotekhnika (rubber products), Volzhsky Shinny Zavod (tires), Volzhsky Podshipnikovy Zavod (bearings), and JSC Zavod Meteor (electronic components).

Culture

There are two theaters in Volzhsky, four movie theaters, and a water park.

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