Novokuznetsk


Novokuznetsk is a city in Kemerovo Oblast in southwestern Siberia, Russia. It is the second-largest city in the oblast, after the administrative center Kemerovo.
It was previously known as Kuznetsk until 1932 and as Stalinsk until 1961.

History

Founded in 1618 by men from Tomsk as a Cossack ostrog on the Tom River, it was initially called Kuznetsky ostrog. It became the seat of Kuznetsky Uyezd in 1622. Kuznetsk was granted town status in 1689. It was here that Fyodor Dostoevsky married his first wife, Maria Isayeva in 1857. Joseph Stalin's rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union transformed the sleepy town into a major coal mining and industrial center in the 1930s. It merged with Sad Gorod in 1931. From 1931 to 1932, the city was known as Novokuznetsk and between 1932 and 1961 as Stalinsk, after Stalin. As a result of de-Stalinization, it was renamed back to Novokuznetsk.

Demographics

As of the 2021 Census, the city's population stands at 537,480.
As of the 2021 Census, the ethnic composition of Novokuznetsk was:

Other census data:

City administration

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Novokuznetsk serves as the administrative center of Novokuznetsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the Novokuznetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Novokuznetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as the Novokuznetsky Urban Okrug.
The city consists of six non-municipal intra-city districts:
DistrictArea,
km2		Population
Zavodskoy District109.1092,620
Kuznetsky District36.1146,932
Kuibyshevsky District92.4975,174
Novoilyinsky District22.4977,593
Ordzhonikidzevsky District95.6278,533
Central District66.52166,628

Administrative bodies

On 7 December 2009, by a resolution of the Novokuznetsk City Council of People's Deputies, a new version of the City Charter was approved, according to which the authorities consist of:
  • Novokuznetsk City Council of People's Deputies,
  • Mayors of the city of Novokuznetsk,
  • Administration of the City of Novokuznetsk,
  • City Control Committee,
  • Judicial institutions: district courts, courts of general jurisdiction, the Russian Agency for Legal and Judicial Information, the permanent judicial presence of the Kemerovo Oblast Court, judicial divisions of magistrates, and others.
The Novokuznetsk City Council of People's Deputies is a representative body of power and consists of 18 deputies elected in 18 single-mandate constituencies and 18 deputies elected on party lists. The term of office of deputies is five years.
In September 2021, elections were held for the Council of People's Deputies, following which the seats in the council were distributed as follows: 27 - United Russia, 2 - Liberal Democratic Party, 2 - A Just Russia, 2 - Communist Party. The representative of United Russia, Alexandra Shelkovnikova, was elected chairman.
The Youth Parliament of the city operates under the City Council of People's Deputies.
A whole network of bodies of territorial public self-government has been created in Novokuznetsk; in total, 60 of them have been created in the city: in the Zavodskoy District - 7, Kuznetsky - 6, Kuibyshevsky - 13, Novoilyinsky - 6, Ordzhonikidzevsky - 9, Central - 16.

Education

Novokuznetsk is a heavily industrial city and is located in the heart of the Kuzbass region. Factories in the city include:
is an ice hockey team based in Novokuznetsk. Formerly a member of the Kontinental Hockey League, the team is currently a member of the Supreme Hockey League. The football team of the same name was recently promoted to the Russian first division below the premier.
RC Novokuznetsk compete in the Professional Rugby League, the highest division of rugby union in Russia.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov were all born in Novokuznetsk and began their pro careers with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
Novokuznetsk is also the birthplace of US chess Grandmaster Gata Kamsky.

Transportation

The main airport is the Spichenkovo Airport. The city is also a major railway junction with both local and long-distance trains. Local public transport is provided by trams, buses, and trolleybuses.

Climate

Novokuznetsk has a fairly typical southwest Siberian humid continental climate with warm summers during which most of the precipitation occurs, and severe, generally dry winters. Snowfall is very frequent during the winter, but its water content is generally very low due to the cold temperatures.

Twin towns and sister cities

Novokuznetsk is twinned with: