Verkhovazhye
Encyclopedia
Verkhovazhye is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky District
, Vologda Oblast
, Russia
, located on the right bank of the Vaga River
. It also serves as the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky Selsoviet, one of the fourteen selsoviets into which the district is administratively divided. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Verkhovazhskoye Rural Settlement. Population:
The name of Verkhovazhye, means literally on the Upper Vaga.
(it was controlled first by Novgorodians
, and after the fall of Novgorod was transferred to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
), and the later construction of the surface road connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk, by 17th century Verkhovazhye was a major trading settlement. It was first mentioned in 17th century, and in 1678 it became a posad
, a semi-urban settlement. In 18th century industry was introduced, which included a distillery, an iron works, and a paper production plant. In 18th century, Verkhovazhnsky Posad (currently Verkhovazhye) was one of the main trading towns in the Russian North, holding two annual fairs. In 1810, a secondary school was opened.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate
. Vaga volosts were explicitly mentioned as one of the towns included in the 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 Verkhovazhye was made Vologda Governorate
. Since 1780, the upper Vaga lands were part of Velsky Uyezd with the administrative center in the town of Velsk. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Velsky Uyezd was split into Velsky, Verkhovazhsky, and Ustyansky Districts. Verkhovazhye became the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky District. On July 30, 1931, Verkhovazhsky District was merged into Velsky District, and on January 25, 1935, it was reestablished..
, which connects Moscow
and Arkhangelsk
, runs along the left bank of the Vaga, bypassing Verkhovazhye. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Verkhovazhye.
The only state museum in Verkhovazhye is the Historical Museum of 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...
, 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...
, located on the right bank of 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...
. It also serves as the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky Selsoviet, one of the fourteen selsoviets into which the district is administratively divided. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Verkhovazhskoye Rural Settlement. Population:
The name of Verkhovazhye, means literally on the Upper Vaga.
History
The area of Verkhovazhye and the upper course of the Vaga were populated already in 13th century. Due to its location on one of the main waterways connecting central Russia and the White SeaWhite 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...
(it was controlled first by Novgorodians
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...
, and after the fall of Novgorod was transferred to 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....
), and the later construction of the surface road connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk, by 17th century Verkhovazhye was a major trading settlement. It was first mentioned in 17th century, and in 1678 it became a posad
Posad
A posad was a settlement, often surrounded by ramparts and a moat, adjoining a town or a kremlin, but outside of it, or adjoining a monastery in the 10th to 15th centuries. Usually it was inhabited by craftsmen and merchants, known as posadskiye lyudi .In the Russian Empire a posad was a small...
, a semi-urban settlement. In 18th century industry was introduced, which included a distillery, an iron works, and a paper production plant. In 18th century, Verkhovazhnsky Posad (currently Verkhovazhye) was one of the main trading towns in the Russian North, holding two annual fairs. In 1810, a secondary school was opened.
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...
. Vaga volosts were explicitly mentioned as one of the towns included in the governorate. 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 Verkhovazhye 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...
. Since 1780, the upper Vaga lands were part of Velsky Uyezd with the administrative center in the town of Velsk. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Velsky Uyezd was split into Velsky, Verkhovazhsky, and Ustyansky Districts. Verkhovazhye became the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky District. On July 30, 1931, Verkhovazhsky District was merged into Velsky District, and on January 25, 1935, it was reestablished..
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...
, runs along the left bank of the Vaga, bypassing Verkhovazhye. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Verkhovazhye.
Culture and recreation
The district contains forty-one objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.The only state museum in Verkhovazhye is the Historical Museum of Verkhovazhsky District.