Nikolsky District, Vologda Oblast

Nikolsky District (English) Никольский район (Russian)
Location of Nikolsky District on the map of Vologda Oblast
Coordinates: 59°32′N 45°27′E / 59.533°N 45.45°E / 59.533; 45.45Coordinates: 59°32′N 45°27′E / 59.533°N 45.45°E / 59.533; 45.45
The Coat of Arma of Nikolsk	The flag of Nikolsky District
Administrative status
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Vologda Oblast[1]
Administrative center	town of Nikolsk[2]
# of cities/towns	1[2]
# of urban-type settlements	0[2]
# of selsoviets	17[2]
Municipal status (as of May 2010)
Municipally incorporated as	Nikolsky Municipal District[3]
- # of urban settlements	1[3]
- # of rural settlements	14[3]
Statistics
Area	7,476 km2 (2,886 sq mi)[4]
Population (2010 Census, preliminary)	22,417 inhabitants[5]
Population (2002 Census)	26,461 inhabitants[5]
- Urban population	32.7%
- Rural population	67.3%
Density	3 /km2 (7.8 /sq mi)[6]
Time zone	MSD (UTC+04:00)[7]
Established	June 10, 1924[8]
Official website

Nikolsky District (Russian: Никольский район) is an administrative district (raion), one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia.^[1] Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolsky Municipal District.^[3] It is located in the southeast of the oblast and borders with Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District in the north, Vokhomsky District of Kostroma Oblast in the east, Pavinsky, Pyshchugsky, Mezhevskoy, and Kologrivsky Districts of Kostroma Oblast in the south, Babushkinsky District in the southwest, and Nyuksensky District in the west. The area of the district is 7,476 square kilometers (2,886 sq mi).^[4] Its administrative center is the town of Nikolsk.^[2] District's population: 22,417 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[9] 26,461 (2002 Census);^[5] 31,437 (1989 Census).^[10] Population of Nikolsk accounts for 32.7% of the district's population.^[5]

History

The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoples. In 14th-15th century, during the colonization, it was a disputed territory between Grand Duchy of Moscow and Novgorod Republic.^[11] Novgorod controlled the major part of Russian North, and, in particular, all areas along the Sukhona north-east of Nikolsky District. Moscow controlled Veliky Ustyug, which it inherited from Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, and the Yug was the waterway it used to get to Veliky Ustyug. It is known that in 1452 Nikolsk and surrounding areas paid tribute to Novgorod.^[11] In the end of 15th century, Novgorod was appended to Grand Duchy of Moscow, and Nikolsk became one of the key points on the way from Moscow to the White Sea, which until 1703 was the main route for the foreign trade in Russia. In particular, the harbor in Nikolsk was used to transport cargo.

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty. Simultaneously, Nikolsk became the center of the uyezd and got the town rights. The viceroyalty was abolished in 1796, and Nikolsky Uyezd moved to Vologda Governorate. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate with the administrative center located in Veliky Ustyug. In 1924 the uyezds were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions).

On June 10, 1924 Nikolsky District was established. In 1929, Northern Dvina Governorate was merged into Northern Krai. The krai consisted of five okrugs, one of which, Northern Dvina Okrug, had the administrative center is Veliky Ustyug. Nikolsky District became part of Northern Dvina Okrug. In July 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts became directly subordinate to Northern Krai. In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into Northern Oblast, and in 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Nikolsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since.^[8]

On June 10, 1924 Roslyatinsky District was established, with the administrative center in the selo of Roslyatino. On July 30, 1931 it was merged into Ledengsky District, then in 1935 it was reestablished, and on November 12, 1960 Roslyatinsky District was abolished again, and its area was divided between Babushkinsky and Nikolsky Districts.^[8][12]

Until 1990s, Nikolsky District was one of the most remote areas of Vologda Oblast. Nikolsk was connected by roads to Veliky Ustyug and Vologda, but travelling from Nikolsk to Moscow would require a detour to Vologda. The problem was solved when the road to Pyshchug and Manturovo, both in Kostroma Oblast, was build in the end of 1990s.

Location and geography

The village of Argunovo in the north of the district

The landscape of the disctrict is dominated by the Northern Ridge chain of hills which separate the river basins of the Nothern Dvina and the Volga, or, more generally, basins of the Arctic Ocean and the Caspian Sea. The eastern part of the district drains into the Yug River, which makes a big loop inside the district. In particular, the town of Nikolsk is located on the banks of the Yug. The Yug is one of the two sources (along with the Sukhona) of the Northern Dvina. The northern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Sharzhenga, a left tributary of the Yug. The southwestern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Unzha, a left tributary of the Volga, and of the Mezha, a principal (left) tributary of the Unzha. Minor areas in the south and the very east of the district belong to the basin of the Vetluga, another left tributary of the Volga, and its right tributary, the Vokhma. The sources of the Unzha and the Vokhma is located in the district limits.

Considerable areas within the district are covered by coniferous forests.

Economy

Industry

The basis of the economy of the district is timber industry. Food industry, including meat, milk, and bread production, is also present. There is also linum textile production.^[13]

Agriculture

There are about 100 farms in the district, not more than a dozen of them are large-scale. The main activity of the farms is cattle breeding, pork production, and linum growing. Most of the crops are grown to feed cattle.^[13]

Transport

Paved roads connect Nikolsk with Pyshchug and Manturovo in the south, crossing the border with Kostroma Oblast, with Totma in the west, and with Veliky Ustyug via Kichmengsky Gorodok in the north. There is regular bus service on these roads, as well as local bus traffic originating from Nikolsk.

The Yug is navigable downstream from Nikolsk, however, there is no passenger navigation.

There are no railroads operated by Russian Railways in the district, and the closest railway stations with regular passenger service are Kotlas in Arkhangelsk Oblast and Sharya in Kostroma Oblast. There were plans to extend the Monza Railroad, a railroad built for timber transport, which runs along the border of Vologda and Kostroma Oblasts, to Nikolsk, however, these plans were never realized.^[14] Several kilometers of tracks at the eastern end of the Monza Railroad, including Kema terminal station, are located within the district.

Culture and recreation

The Presentation Cathedral (1780-1833) in Nikolsk after the 2005 fire

The district contains 137 objects (sixty of them located in Nikolsk) classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.^[15] Most of these are farms, town houses, and churches built prior to 1917.

Author Alexander Yashin, associated with the Village Prose movement in Russian Literature, was born in 1913 in what is now Nikolsky District, got his education in Nikolsk, and lived in Nikolsk until mid-1930s. The only state museum in the district is the Memorial Museum of Alexander Yashin, located in Nikolsk.^[16] The museum occupies the house which belonged to Yashin's parents, as well as the former house of Yashin.

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Law #371-OZ
2. ^ ^{a b c} Resolution #178
3. ^ ^{a b c} Law #1119-OZ
4. ^ ^{a b} "Никольский район" (in Russian). Правительство Вологодской области. http://vologda-oblast.ru/main.asp?V=226. Retrieved 20 September 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
6. ^ The value of density was calculated automatically by dividing the 2010 Census population by the area specified in the infobox. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox does not necessarily correspond to the area of the entity proper or is reported for the same year as the population.
7. ^ Правительство Российской Федерации. Постановление №725 от 31 августа 2011 г. «О составе территорий, образующих каждую часовую зону, и порядке исчисления времени в часовых зонах, а также о признании утратившими силу отдельных Постановлений Правительства Российской Федерации». Вступил в силу по истечении 7 дней после дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Российская Газета", №197, 6 сентября 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Resolution #725 of August 31, 2011 On the Composition of the Territories Included into Each Time Zone and on the Procedures of Timekeeping in the Time Zones, as Well as on Abrogation of Several Resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation. Effective as of after 7 days following the day of the official publication).
8. ^ ^{a b c} "Справка об изменениях административно-территориального устройства и сети партийных и комсомольских органов на территории Вологодской области (1917-1991)" (in Russian). Архивы России. http://www.rusarchives.ru/guide/voanpi/126sia.shtml. Retrieved 20 September 2011. 
9. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2011). "Предварительные итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года (Preliminary results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2010). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis-2010.ru/results_of_the_census/results-inform.php. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
10. ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "г.Никольск" (in Russian). Правительство Вологодской области. http://vologda-oblast.ru/main.asp?V=227. Retrieved 20 September 2011. 
12. ^ "История" (in Russian). Администрация Бабушкинского р-на. http://www.babushadm.ru/hystory/. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Промышленность" (in Russian). Правительство Вологодской области. http://vologda-oblast.ru/main.asp?V=714. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
14. ^ Белихов, А. Б. (2009). А.М. Белов, А.В. Новиков. ed. Развитие железных дорог Костромского края в ХХ веке. II Романовские чтения. Центр и провинция в системе российской государственности: материалы конференции.. Кострома: КГУ им. Н.А. Некрасова.. http://www.hrono.ru/proekty/romanov/2rc17.php. Retrieved September 23, 2011. 
15. ^ "Памятники истории и культуры народов Российской Федерации" (in Russian). Russian Ministry of Culture. http://kulturnoe-nasledie.ru/. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
16. ^ "Никольский историко-мемориальный музей А.Я.Яшина" (in Russian). Российская сеть культурного наследия. http://www.museum.ru/M779. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 

Sources

• Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №371-ОЗ от 4 июня 1999 г. «О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области», в ред. Закона №1452-ОЗ от 30 мая 2006 г «О внесении изменений в Закон области "О порядке решения вопросов административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №124–125, 29 июля 1999 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #371-OZ of June 4, 1999 On the Matter of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Law #1452-OZ of May 30, 2006 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Procedures of Handling the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication).
• Правительство Вологодской области. Постановление №178 от 1 марта 2010 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц Вологодской области». (Government of Vologda Oblast. Resolution #178 of March 1, 2010 On Adopting the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Vologda Oblast. ).

External links

• "Официальный сайт Администрации Никольского муниципального района / Official website of the district administration" (in Russian). http://www.nikolskreg.ru/. Retrieved September 20, 2011.