Population of the Smolensk region: number and ethnic composition

"Hail is great and many people" - so describes the glorious ancient Smolensk Ustyuzhanskaya chronicle IX century. This is the very first mention of the glorious Smolensk region. For the second millennium the ancient Russian city, which has become a major regional center, flaunts on the banks of the Dnieper. Traveling to these places becomes a real discovery of a glorious region. Surprising is not only nature, architecture, but also the population of the Smolensk region. Guests are always welcome here, with a Russian scope.

Location of Smolensk Region

The western borders of the Russian land are framed with glorious Smolensk lands, which can be compared to a wise old warrior guarding peace. And, indeed, more than once this heroic city became a shield for Russia. Smolensk itself is located in the upper reaches of the Dnieper River at a distance of 365 km from Moscow. The Smolensk region is a constituent entity of the Russian Federation and is located in the Central Federal District.

The city, which originated on seven hills, along which the trade route from "Varangians to Greeks" was the center of many settlements. Today Smolensk region has a common border with Bryansk, Pskov, Moscow, Kaluga, Tver regions. Belarus is adjacent to the Smolensk region of Vitebsk and Mogilev regions. The region was formed in 1937.

Short description of the area

The Smolensk region occupies about 50,000 km in the center of the East European Plain. There are both uplands and lowlands here. The climate here is moderately continental, since the climate zone is also temperate. Driving through this area, you can observe wavy surfaces, hilly areas, river valleys.

On the territory of the Smolensk region there are many minerals with sedimentary origin. Here you can encounter deposits of brown coal, peat, rock salt, loam, clay. The nature did not deprive these lands of curative mud, mineral waters. Sometimes there are deposits of rock crystal, silicon, ore, ocher. Peat reserves in this area are very large. For construction works, sand, gravel, and gypsum are mined here.

In winter there is a moderate frosty temperature, in summer it is warm and rainy. Through the region there are such tributaries of the Dnieper, as Vyazma, Vop, Desna, Sozh. From here, such large rivers as the Volga and the Oka, in which Vazuza and Ugra enter, replenish their water reserves.

The main area of the Smolensk region is occupied by turf-podzolic soils. Sometimes there are sandy loams and loamy areas. In this region there are many forests, meadows, marshes. Crops of cultivated plants are widely spread. The main representatives of forests are spruce, birch, aspen. Slightly less represented are oaks, maples, ash trees, lindens. The animal world is represented here by many species of mammals and birds. About 50 species of fish are found in local water bodies.

Historical background

Initially on the land of Smolensk lived Krivichi, the population of the Smolensk region originates from them. Further, the city for a long time was under the control of Kievan Rus. The heyday of the Smolensk Principality falls on the XII century. For some time some of the land was part of the Lithuanian principality, and later they were joined by the Moscow Principality. The final transition of the Smolensk lands to the Russian state occurred after the Russian-Polish confrontation. So in the XVIII century there was Smolensk province.

At the beginning of the Soviet period, some part of the Smolensk region was part of the Belarusian SSR. And since 1937 it has acquired modern borders.

Famous fellow countrymen

Famous people were born on the Smolensk land, among them talented artists, actors, brilliant composers, writers, poets, sculptors. Many people were struck by their genius by the famous composer M. Glinka. It was here that the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was born. An unforgettable clown, a circus artist Yuri Nikulin is also a native of the Smolensk region. The inhabitants of the region are proud of such geniuses as A. Tvardovsky, N. Przhevalsky, S. Konenkov, A. Azimov, A. Griboyedov.

The population of the Smolensk region

The All-Russia Census of 2010 found that of the 18 regions of the Central Region of the Federation Smolensk region took the 16th place. The population of the Smolensk region was 985 500 people. In the course of historical events, this figure has changed very often. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, in 2013 the population density of the Smolensk region was 19.59 people per square kilometer. The decline in density in its time is very influenced by urbanization.

The number of urban residents significantly exceeds the number of rural residents. So this ratio is equal to 72% of the townspeople to 28% of the rural population. The number of women in relation to men also significantly exceeds. The number of women at the moment is 536,900, and for men - 448,600.

In the capital of the region, the city of Smolensk, according to calculations for January 2017, 328 906 people live.

Population of the Smolensk region by cities and districts

The largest city of Smolensk, of course, is the capital of the region - Smolensk. The number of the city mentioned above. The second largest city is the glorious district center of Vyazma, home to 54,259 people. Next to it goes the city of Roslavl with a population of 51 775 inhabitants. Almost the same number of people are the district centers of Yartsevo and Safonovo (46,219 and 43,727). In the town of Gagarin there are 26 916 people, in Desnogorsk there are 28 518 inhabitants. Here are other, less populated cities in the Smolensk region in terms of population:

• Rudnya - 9 650.
• Yelnya - 9 460.
• Repairs are 8 684.
• Sychevka - 8,246.
• Great - 7,078.
• Demidov - 6 585.
• Spirituality - 4 125.

The population of the districts of the Smolensk region has the following indicators:

• Velizh district - 11 114.
• Vyazemsky district - 77,359.
• Gagarinsky district - 45,940.
• Glinkovsky district - 4,404.
• Demidov district - 12 310.
• Dorogobuzhsky district - 27,376.
• Dukhovschinsky district - 15 484.
• Elninsky district - 13 846.
• Ershichsky district - 6 444.
• Kardymovskiy borough - 12 499.
• Krasninskiy district - 12,269.
• Monastyrshchinsky district - 9 472.
• Novoduginsky district - 9 603.
• Pochinkovsky District - 29,851.
• Roslavl district - 71,990.
• Rudnya district - 23 562.
• Safonovsky district - 58,803.
• Smolensky district - 53 889.
• Sychevsky district - 13 807.
• Temkinsky district - 5,971.
• Ugransky district - 8 190.
• Hislavichsky district - 8 106.
• Holm-Zhirkovsky district - 9 754.
• Shumyachsky district - 9,909.
• Yartsevsky district - 54 231.

Recent population estimates

The population of Smolensk region in 2016 was 958 600 people. As of January 1 this year, urban residents numbered 690,000 (72%), rural residents were 268,600 (28%). It should be noted that the western regions of the region are more populated than the rest. The lowest population in the eastern regions (Temkinsky, Ugransky). The number of children and adolescents is 336 000 people. The population of the Smolensk region in 2016 decreased compared to 2015 by 6000 people.

National composition

Many are interested not only in the number of the population of the Smolensk region, but also in its ethnic composition. 97% of the total population of Smolensk occupy the Russian. The second place is occupied by the representatives of Belarus (0.83%). The Ukrainian nation is represented here at 0.64%. Jews are represented in the amount of 0.56%. Gypsies occupy 0.18% of the population. Quite insignificant amounts, but still there are Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Poles, Georgians, Germans in the region.

Natural attractions

To save natural complexes, as well as for scientific purposes, the Smolensk Lake District was established in the region. This name was given to this reserve because of the 35 lakes that make up its structure. Each of them is famous for its unique beauty. Visitors to Smolensk by sight are plunged into a fabulous atmosphere. On the territory of the reserve there are many historical monuments. One of them is the ancient ancient city of Verzhavsk, which flourished in the 9th-12th centuries.

These amazingly beautiful places are also associated with the great explorer and explorer of the Asian lands - NM Przhevalsky. Many tourists and locals know the famous source called the "Holy Well".

Architectural monuments

Of the most ancient architectural buildings of Smolensk, one can distinguish a stone fortress fortress. It was still under the leadership of Tsar Fedor Ioanovich, since in the 16th and 17th centuries territorial disputes arose between the Moscow Principality and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. About 30,000 hired workers were used for this construction. This architectural monument consists of fortress walls and 38 towers, some of them reach 33 meters in height. This is the most powerful wall of the times of Rus. Supervised construction of the famous Smolensk master Fedor Kon.

In the Smolensk region, as in no other, preserved monuments of Russian culture of the pre-Mongol period. There are works in the Baroque style, as well as unsurpassed examples of church construction.

In Smolensk there are several memorial signs, complexes, which recorded the memory of many military events. Also, there were many monumental monuments dedicated to the famous countrymen. "Green Necklace of the city" - so the inhabitants of Smolensk call their parks and public gardens.

Major museums and Orthodox churches

Many have heard the village of Boldino, in the Smolensk region. Very often tourists go there on excursions. One of the most ancient and beautiful objects here is the Holy Trinity Monastery. It was founded by the Monk Gerasim Boldinsky in the 6th century. Several times this temple has been restored, but it also continues to please its visitors.

In the village of Novospassky, Smolensk region, there is a museum-estate of Mikhail Glinka, where he once lived. This manor is the only monument dedicated to the famous Russian composer. The estate consists of a main two-storey house, a kitchen annex, a guest house, a bakery, a coach house, beautiful arbors and a family temple. Very often for the guests of the estate sound the enchanting sounds of the piano.

In the village of Khmelita, the Smolensk region, the former manor of the Griboyedov family was preserved. Some features of this building can be found in his immortal comedy "Woe from Wit". In the palace and park ensemble there is a stone house, 4 wings, a park with alleys, 2 ponds and a temple.

Between the villages of Gnezdovo and Katyn, Smolensk region is the memorial complex "Katyn". For a very long time of the Soviet period this place was not mentioned, since in 1940 tragic events took place here. It was in the local forest that several tens of thousands of Polish officers and other prisoners were shot. The memorial complex is quite young, it was opened in 2000. The main entrance to the memorial is made in the form of glass gates. In the center of the complex is a high Orthodox cross, from it goes the Memory Alley.

In the Smolensk region a lot of temples were built, but only three of them survived from the pre-Mongol period: the Intercession Church, the Assumption Cathedral, the Monastery of St. Sergius in the Church of the Ascension Monastery.