Syamzhensky District
Encyclopedia
Syamzhensky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-six
in Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Syamzhensky Municipal District. It is located in the center of the oblast
and borders with Vozhegodsky District
in the north, Verkhovazhsky District
in the northeast, Totemsky District
in the east, Sokolsky District
in the south, and Kharovsky District
in the west. The area of the district is 3900 square kilometres (1,505.8 sq mi). Its administrative center is the selo of Syamzha
. District's population: 10,384 (2002 Census
); Population of Syamzha accounts for 37.9% of the district's population.
and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic
. In the upper course of the Syamzhena River
the remains of the settlement from 12th century - Chudin Val - have been preserved. After the fall of Novgorod, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
. 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
. The latter was abolished in 1796, and the part of it which included the current area of the district was made Vologda Governorate
. The district area was shared between Kadnikovsky and Totemsky Uyezds.
In 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai
. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Syamzhensky District with the center in the village of Yarygino was established and became a part of Vologda Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. On August 5, 1931, Syamzhensky District was abolished, and its area was divided between Kharovsky and Totemsky Districts. On January 25, 1935, the district was reestablished. The district center was established in the village of Dyakovskaya. In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Syamzhensky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since. In 1953, the district center was moved in the selo of Syamzha
, with the exception of the aborted administrative reforms of 1962-1965, when it was appended to Kharovsky District.
. The Kubena crosses the northwestern part of the district, entering from the nort and exiting to the west. The major tributary of the Kubena within the district is the Syamzhena
. The southern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Syamzhena, in particular, the district center, the selo of Syamzha, is located on the banks of the Syamzhena. The biggest lake of the district, Lake Shichengskoye, also drains into the Syamzhena. The central and northern parts of the district belong to the river basins of other tributaries of the Kubena, such as the Verdenga and the Yakhrenga. The northeastern part of the district drains into the Vaga River
, a major tributary of the Northern Dvina River, and the Vaga crosses the district in the northern direction. Finally, some minor areas in the south and southeast of the district belong to the river basins of tributaries of the Sukhona
such as the Tsaryova and the Dvinitsa
. The whole area of the district thus belongs to the river basin of the Northern Dvina and to the White Sea
basin.
Considerable areas within the district are covered by coniferous forests. There are swamps, in particular, in the south, east, and northeast of the district. The biggest swamp in the district, the Shichengskoye Swamp, is located around Lake Shichengskoye.
, which connects Moscow
and Arkhangelsk
, crosses the district from the south to the north, passing Syamzha. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Syamzha.
None of the rivers are navigable in the limits of the district.
In 2006, the Syamzhensky District Museum was opened in Syamzha. It displays archaeologic, ethnographic, and local interest collections.
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 Syamzhensky Municipal District. It is located in the center 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 Vozhegodsky District
Vozhegodsky District
Vozhegodsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vozhegodsky Municipal District...
in the north, Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Verkhovazhsky Municipal District...
in the northeast, Totemsky District
Totemsky District
Totemsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemsky Municipal District...
in the east, Sokolsky District
Sokolsky District, Vologda Oblast
Sokolsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Sokolsky Municipal District...
in the south, and Kharovsky District
Kharovsky District
Kharovsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kharovsky Municipal District. It is located in the center of the oblast and borders with Vozhegodsky District in the north, Syamzhensky District in the east,...
in the west. The area of the district is 3900 square kilometres (1,505.8 sq mi). Its administrative center is the selo of Syamzha
Syamzha
Syamzha is a rural locality and the administrative center of Syamzhensky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on both banks of the Syamzhena River, a tributary of the Kubena River. It also serves as the administrative center of Syamzhensky Selsoviet, one of the ten selsoviets into which the...
. District's population: 10,384 (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 Syamzha accounts for 37.9% of the district's population.
History
The area in general 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...
and then colonized by the 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...
. In the upper course of the Syamzhena River
Syamzhena River
The Syamzhena is a river in Sokolsky and Syamzhensky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Kubena River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributaries are the Shichenga and the Bolshoy Pungul...
the remains of the settlement from 12th century - Chudin Val - have been preserved. After the fall of Novgorod, the area became a part of the 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....
. 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...
. The latter was abolished in 1796, and the part of it which included the current area of the district was made 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...
. The district area was shared between Kadnikovsky and Totemsky Uyezds.
In 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were 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...
. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Syamzhensky District with the center in the village of Yarygino was established and became a part of Vologda Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. On August 5, 1931, Syamzhensky District was abolished, and its area was divided between Kharovsky and Totemsky Districts. On January 25, 1935, the district was reestablished. The district center was established in the village of Dyakovskaya. In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Syamzhensky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since. In 1953, the district center was moved in the selo of Syamzha
Syamzha
Syamzha is a rural locality and the administrative center of Syamzhensky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on both banks of the Syamzhena River, a tributary of the Kubena River. It also serves as the administrative center of Syamzhensky Selsoviet, one of the ten selsoviets into which the...
, with the exception of the aborted administrative reforms of 1962-1965, when it was appended to Kharovsky District.
Location and geography
Almost the entire area of the district belongs to the river basin of the KubenaKubena River
The Kubena is a river in Konoshsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vozhegodsky, Syamzhensky, Kharovsky, Sokolsky, and Ust-Kubinsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin . The Kubena is the principal tributary of Lake Kubenskoye and belongs to the basins...
. The Kubena crosses the northwestern part of the district, entering from the nort and exiting to the west. The major tributary of the Kubena within the district is the Syamzhena
Syamzhena River
The Syamzhena is a river in Sokolsky and Syamzhensky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Kubena River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributaries are the Shichenga and the Bolshoy Pungul...
. The southern part of the district belongs to the river basin of the Syamzhena, in particular, the district center, the selo of Syamzha, is located on the banks of the Syamzhena. The biggest lake of the district, Lake Shichengskoye, also drains into the Syamzhena. The central and northern parts of the district belong to the river basins of other tributaries of the Kubena, such as the Verdenga and the Yakhrenga. The northeastern part of the district drains into the Vaga River
Vaga River
The Vaga is a river in Totemsky, Syamzhensky, and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Velsky, Shenkursky, and Vinogradovsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left and the biggest tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin...
, a major tributary of the Northern Dvina River, and the Vaga crosses the district in the northern direction. Finally, some minor areas in the south and southeast of the district belong to the river basins of tributaries of 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...
such as the Tsaryova and the Dvinitsa
Dvinitsa River
The Dvinitsa is a river in Kharovsky, Sokolsky, and Mezhdurechensky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Sukhona River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
. The whole area of the district thus belongs to the river basin of the Northern Dvina and to the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
basin.
Considerable areas within the district are covered by coniferous forests. There are swamps, in particular, in the south, east, and northeast of the district. The biggest swamp in the district, the Shichengskoye Swamp, is located around Lake Shichengskoye.
Industry
The economy of the district is dominated by timber industry, which produces 82% of all goods in the district.Agriculture
In 2010, six large- and mid-scale farms operated in the district. The main directions were cattle breeding and growing of crops. The farms produced milk and meat, and crops were mainly used to feed cattle.Transport
One of the principal highways in Russia, M8M8 highway (Russia)
The Russian route M8, also known as the Kholmogory Highway or Yaroslavl highway, is a major trunk road that links Moscow to the Russian North in general and the sea harbour of Arkhangelsk in particular...
, which connects Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
, crosses the district from the south to the north, passing Syamzha. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Syamzha.
None of the rivers are navigable in the limits of the district.
Culture and recreation
The district contains sixty-three objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. Most of these are wooden farms and churches built prior to 1917.In 2006, the Syamzhensky District Museum was opened in Syamzha. It displays archaeologic, ethnographic, and local interest collections.