Nikolsky District, Vologda Oblast
Encyclopedia
Nikolsky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-six
in Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolsky Municipal District. 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 District
s of Kostroma Oblast in the south, Babushkinsky District
in the southwest, and Nyuksensky District
in the west. The area of the district is 7476 square kilometres (2,886.5 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Nikolsk
. District's population: 26,461 (2002 Census
); Population of Nikolsk accounts for 32.7% of the district's population.
. In 14th-15th century, during the colonization, it was a disputed territory between Grand Duchy of Moscow
and Novgorod Republic
. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
textile production.
growing. Most of the crops are grown to feed cattle.
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. Several kilometers of tracks at the eastern end of the Monza Railroad, including Kema terminal station, are located within the district.
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. The museum occupies the house which belonged to Yashin's parents, as well as the former house of Yashin.
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
), one of the twenty-six
Administrative divisions of Vologda Oblast
Administratively, Vologda Oblast is divided into four cities and towns of oblast significance and twenty-six districts.In terms of the area, the biggest administrative district is Vytegorsky District ....
in Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolsky Municipal District. It is located in the southeast of the oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
and borders with Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District
Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District
Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky Municipal District...
in the north, Vokhomsky District
Vokhomsky District
Vokhomsky District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kostroma Oblast, Russia....
of Kostroma Oblast
Kostroma Oblast
Kostroma Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kostroma.Major historic towns include Kostroma, Sharya, Nerekhta, Galich, Soligalich, and Makaryev. Textile industries have been developed there since the early 18th century...
in the east, Pavinsky
Pavinsky District
Pavinsky District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kostroma Oblast, Russia....
, Pyshchugsky
Pyshchugsky District
Pyshchugsky District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kostroma Oblast, Russia....
, Mezhevskoy
Mezhevskoy District
Mezhevskoy District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kostroma Oblast, Russia. -External links:...
, and Kologrivsky District
Kologrivsky District
Kologrivsky District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kostroma Oblast, Russia....
s of Kostroma Oblast in the south, Babushkinsky District
Babushkinsky District, Vologda Oblast
Babushkinsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Babushkinsky Municipal District...
in the southwest, and Nyuksensky District
Nyuksensky District
Nyuksensky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nyuksensky Municipal District...
in the west. The area of the district is 7476 square kilometres (2,886.5 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Nikolsk
Nikolsk, Vologda Oblast
Nikolsk is a town and the administrative center of Nikolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the right bank of the Yug River close to the point where it flows into the White Sea. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolskoye Urban Settlement in Nikolsky Municipal District...
. District's population: 26,461 (2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
); Population of Nikolsk accounts for 32.7% of the district's population.
History
The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoplesFinno-Ugric peoples
The Finno-Ugric peoples are any of several peoples of Europe who speak languages of the proposed Finno-Ugric language family, such as the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins, and Hungarians...
. In 14th-15th century, during the colonization, it was a disputed territory between Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
and Novgorod Republic
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
. Novgorod controlled the major part of Russian North, and, in particular, all areas along the Sukhona
Sukhona River
The Sukhona is a river in the European pert of Russia, a tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The course of the Sukhona lies in Ust-Kubinsky, Sokolsky, Mezhdurechensky, Totemsky, Tarnogsky, Nyuksensky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its...
north-east of Nikolsky District. Moscow controlled Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
, which it inherited from Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, and the Yug
Yug River
The Yug is a river in Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky, Nikolsky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Podosinovsky District of Kirov Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin...
was the waterway it used to get to Veliky Ustyug. It is known that in 1452 Nikolsk and surrounding areas paid tribute to Novgorod. 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
Archangelgorod Governorate
Archangelgorod Governorate , or the Government of Archangelgorod, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1708 until 1780. Its seat was in Archangel...
. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1780–1796.The viceroyalty was established by a decree of Catherine II on , 1780...
. Simultaneously, Nikolsk became the center of the uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
and got the town rights. The viceroyalty was abolished in 1796, and Nikolsky Uyezd moved to Vologda Governorate
Vologda Governorate
The Vologda Governorate or Government of Vologda was a guberniya in the historical northern region of the European part of Russian Empire.In its size it was second right after the neighboring Archangelgorod Governorate...
. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate
Northern Dvina Governorate
Northern Dvina Governorate was a governorate of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1918 to 1929. Its seat was in the city of Veliky Ustyug. The governorate was located in the North of European Russia, and its territory is currently divided between Arkhangelsk, Vologda,...
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
Northern Krai
Northern Krai was a krai of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1929 to 1936. Its seat was in the city of Arkhangelsk...
. 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.
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.
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
Manturovo
Manturovo is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Unzha River , northeast of Kostroma. Population: 22,000 .-Overview:...
, both in Kostroma Oblast, was build in the end of 1990s.
Location and geography
The landscape of the disctrict is dominated by the Northern RidgeNorthern Ridge
The Northern Ridge, Northern Uvaly, Severnyye Uvaly , is the chain of hills in the northern part of the East European Plain in Russia. The Northern Ridge divides the river basins of the Northern Dvina River and the Volga River...
chain of hills which separate the river basins of the Nothern Dvina and the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
, or, more generally, basins of the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. The eastern part of the district drains into the Yug River
Yug River
The Yug is a river in Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky, Nikolsky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Podosinovsky District of Kirov Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, 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
Sukhona River
The Sukhona is a river in the European pert of Russia, a tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The course of the Sukhona lies in Ust-Kubinsky, Sokolsky, Mezhdurechensky, Totemsky, Tarnogsky, Nyuksensky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its...
) of the Northern Dvina. The northern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Sharzhenga
Sharzhenga River
The Sharzhenga is a river in Nyuksensky, Babushkinsky, and Nikolsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Yug River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, a left tributary of the Yug. The southwestern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Unzha
Unzha River
Unzha River , a river in the Vologda Oblast and Kostroma Oblast in Russia, a tributary of the Volga River. Its length is 426 km. The area of the basin is 28,900 km². The Unzha River begins at the confluence of the Kema River and the Lundonga River. It flows into the Unzhensky Cove of the Gorkovsky...
, 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
Vetluga River
Vetluga is a river in the Kirov Oblast, Kostroma Oblast, Mari El Republic and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of Russia. It is a left tributary of Volga, confluence near Kozmodemyansk. The river is navigable....
, 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.
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 linumLinum
Linum is a genus of approximately 200 species in the flowering plant family Linaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions of the world. It includes the Common Flax Linum (flax) is a genus of approximately 200 species in the flowering plant family Linaceae, native to temperate and...
textile production.
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 linumLinum
Linum is a genus of approximately 200 species in the flowering plant family Linaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions of the world. It includes the Common Flax Linum (flax) is a genus of approximately 200 species in the flowering plant family Linaceae, native to temperate and...
growing. Most of the crops are grown to feed cattle.
Transport
Paved roads connect Nikolsk with Pyshchug and ManturovoManturovo
Manturovo is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Unzha River , northeast of Kostroma. Population: 22,000 .-Overview:...
in the south, crossing the border with Kostroma Oblast, with Totma
Totma
Totma is a town and the administrative center of Totemsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the left bank of the Sukhona River at the confluence with the Pesya Denga River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemskoe Urban Settlement in Totemsky Municipal District. Population:...
in the west, and with Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
via Kichmengsky Gorodok
Kichmengsky Gorodok
Kichmengsky Gorodok is a rural locality and the administrative center of Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Yug River, at the confluence with the Kichmenga River. It also serves as the administrative center of Kichmengsky Selsoviet, one of the...
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
Russian Railways
The Russian Railways , is the government owned national rail carrier of the Russian Federation, headquartered in Moscow. The Russian Railways operate over of common carrier routes as well as a few hundred kilometers of industrial routes, making it the second largest network in the world exceeded...
in the district, and the closest railway stations with regular passenger service are Kotlas
Kotlas
Kotlas is a town in the southeast of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is...
in Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
and Sharya
Sharya
Sharya is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vetluga River northeast of Kostroma. Population: 26,000 .The settlement of Sharya was founded in 1906 and granted town status in 1938.-Twin towns/sister cities:...
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. 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 district contains 137 objects (sixty of them located in Nikolsk) classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. Most of these are farms, town houses, and churches built prior to 1917.Author Alexander Yashin
Alexander Yashin
Alexander Yakovlevich Yashin was a Soviet writer associated with the Village Prose movement.-Early life:Alexander was born in northern Russia in the village of Bludnovo, Vologda Region, into a poor peasant family. Yashin finished a teacher's training college, and spent some time teaching in a...
, associated with the Village Prose
Village Prose
Village Prose was a movement in Soviet literature beginning during the Khrushchev Thaw, which included works that focused on the Soviet rural communities. Some point to the critical essays on collectivization in Novyi mir by Valentin Ovechkin as the starting point of Village Prose, though most of...
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. The museum occupies the house which belonged to Yashin's parents, as well as the former house of Yashin.