Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky

Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky ( _ru. Алекса́ндровск-Сахали́нский) is a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, located near the Tatar Strait on the western shores of Northern Sakhalin at the foot of the Western Sakhalin Mountains. Population: 12,826 (2002 Census); 21,000 (1968). It was known as nihongo|Akō|亜港 during Japanese occupation between 1918-1925.

Alexandrovskaya sloboda is known since 1862. In 1869, an agricultural farm was established there, which later grew into the village of Alexandrovka. At the time, the town was known as nihongo|Otchishi|落石| among Japanese. In 1881, an outpost was established in the village, which became known as Alexandrovsky post. The outpost served as an administrative center for managing "katorga", prisons, exile settlements, and the whole island until the October Revolution. Anton Chekhov used to live in this town in 1890 while gathering material for his book called "The Sakhalin Island".

Town status was granted to Alexandrovsky in 1917. In 1926, the town was renamed Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky to distinguish it from other places of the same name.

Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky was the center of Sakhalin Oblast between 1932 and 1947. It was also known as the coal mining center of the island during the Soviet times.

City's Web-Site: http://aleksandrovsk.tfd.ru