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Novokuznetsk

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Novokuznetsk is a major industrial city located in southwestern Siberia, Russia.

Areanvkz
Areanvkz

It serves as a vital part of the Kemerovo Oblast, a region also known as Kuzbass. Within this oblast, it holds the position of the second-largest city, following the administrative center of Kemerovo. The city is situated near the Tom River. It functions as the administrative center of the Novokuznetsky District. However, the city is incorporated separately as the Novokuznetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction. This status gives it a level of administrative importance equal to that of a district.

The history of the settlement began in 1618. Men from Tomsk founded a Cossack ostrog, which is a type of fort, on the Tom River. They originally named this site Kuznetsky ostrog. By 1622, the location became the seat of the Kuznetsky Uyezd. The settlement was officially granted town status in 1689. A notable historical event occurred here in 1857 when Fyodor Dostoevsky married his first wife, Maria Isayeva. The town underwent a massive transformation during the 1930s. Joseph Stalin led a period of rapid industrialization across the Soviet Union. This process changed the quiet town into a major center for coal mining and industry. In 1931, the town merged with Sad Gorod. It was known as Novokuznetsk from 1931 to 1932. From 1932 to 1961, the city was named Stalinsk in honor of Stalin. Following the period of de-Stalinization, the name was changed back to Novokuznetsk.

Today, Novokuznetsk is a heavily industrial hub located in the heart of the Kuzbass region. The city's economy relies on large-scale manufacturing and resource extraction. Several major factories operate within the city limits. These include the West-Siberian Metal Plant and the Novokuznetsk Iron and Steel Plant. The Sports Metallurg plant is another significant industrial site. This industrial activity is supported by a robust transportation network. The city acts as a major railway junction for both local and long-distance trains. Travelers can also reach the city via the Spichenkovo Airport. Within the city, residents use trams, buses, and trolleybuses for local travel.

The city is organized into six distinct non-municipal intra-city districts. Each district manages a specific area and population. The Central District is the most populous, containing 166,628 residents. The Zavodskoy District covers 109.10 square kilometers and has 92,620 people. The Ordzhonikidzevsky District has a population of 78,533. The Novoilyinsky District has 77,593 residents. The Kuibyshevsky District contains 75,174 people. Finally, the Kuznetsky District has 46,932 residents. These districts form the administrative structure of the urban area.

Demographics show a diverse but largely Russian population. According to the 2021 Census, the total population is 537,480. Russians make up the vast majority at 95.5%, or 438,507 people. Other ethnic groups include Tajiks, who number 3,450, and Tatars, who number 2,533. Other groups account for 3.2% of the population. The city's governance is managed by the Novokuznetsk City Council of People's Deputies. This representative body consists of 36 deputies. Eighteen deputies are elected from single-mandate constituencies. The other eighteen are elected from party lists. Deputies serve five-year terms. In the September 2021 elections, United Russia won 27 seats. The Liberal Democratic Party, A Just Russia, and the Communist Party each won two seats.

The climate in Novokuznetsk is classified as a humid continental climate. This is often referred to by the Köppen classification Dfb. The weather patterns involve warm summers and severe winters. Most of the annual precipitation occurs during the warmer summer months. Winters are generally dry but can be very harsh. Snowfall is a very frequent occurrence during the winter season. However, the snow typically has a low water content. This is due to the extremely cold temperatures in the region.

Sports play a significant role in the culture of Novokuznetsk. The city is well known for its ice hockey history. It is home to the Metallurg Novokuznetsk team. This team has competed in the Supreme Hockey League. The city has produced many professional athletes. Notable hockey players born here include Sergei Bobrovsky, Dmitry Orlov, and Kirill Kaprizov. The city also supports a football team and a professional rugby team, the RC Novokuznetsk. These teams allow the city to participate in high-level Russian sports competitions.

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