Kurgan (Russian: Курган, IPA: [kʊrˈgan]) is the largest city and the administrative center of Kurgan Oblast in the south of the Urals Federal District of Russia. Population: 310,911 (2021 Census);[8] 333,606 (2010 Census);[4] 345,515 (2002 Census);[9] 355,517 (1989 Soviet census).[10].

Kurgan
Курган
Kuybyshev Street in Kurgan
Kuybyshev Street in Kurgan
Flag of Kurgan
Coat of arms of Kurgan
Location of Kurgan
Map
Kurgan is located in Russia
Kurgan
Kurgan
Location of Kurgan
Kurgan is located in Kurgan Oblast
Kurgan
Kurgan
Kurgan (Kurgan Oblast)
Coordinates: 55°28′N 65°21′E / 55.467°N 65.350°E / 55.467; 65.350
CountryRussia
Federal subjectKurgan Oblast[1]
Founded1679
City status since1782
Government
 • BodyCity Duma[2]
 • HeadElena Vyacheslavovna Sitnikova (Елена Вячеславовна Ситникова)
Area
 • Total
393 km2 (152 sq mi)
Elevation
75 m (246 ft)
Population
 • Total
333,606
 • Rank53rd in 2010
 • Density850/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
 • Subordinated toKurgan City Under Oblast Jurisdiction[1]
 • Capital ofKurgan Oblast,[1] Kurgan City Under Oblast Jurisdiction[1]
 • Urban okrugKurgan Urban Okrug[5]
 • Capital ofKurgan Urban Okrug[5]
Time zoneUTC+5 (MSK+2 Edit this on Wikidata[6])
Postal code(s)[7]
640ххх
Dialing code(s)+7 3522
OKTMO ID37701000001
Websitewww.kurgan-city.ru
Historical population
YearPop.±%
189710,306—    
192627,996+171.6%
193953,253+90.2%
1959145,712+173.6%
1970243,850+67.4%
1979309,863+27.1%
1989355,517+14.7%
2002345,515−2.8%
2010333,606−3.4%
2021310,911−6.8%
Source: Census data

Until 1782, Kurgan bore the name Tsaryovo Gorodishche.

History

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Kurgan in the 1850s

An urban settlement was established here between 1659 and 1662 as Tsaryovo Gorodishche (Царёво Городи́ще, meaning Imperial Citadel) by Timofey Nevezhin, a farmer from Tyumen.[citation needed] In the ensuing years it was developed as a fortress town. It served as a frontier post and its fortified position enabled it to defend other Russian settlements from nomad attacks. Nevertheless, it was itself not always able to withstand such attacks, and was sometimes plundered and burnt down.[citation needed]

The city was granted city privileges by the Empress Catherine the Great in 1782, which is when it acquired its present name and became the seat of an uyezd.[citation needed] The present name is taken from a large kurgan (burial mound) close to the original settlement.

Its coat of arms was granted on 17 March 1785, and it became the administrative center of Kurgan Oblast in 1943.[citation needed] Kurgan was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1982.[citation needed]

Administrative and municipal status

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Kurgan is the administrative center of the oblast.[1] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Kurgan City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1] As a municipal division, Kurgan City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Kurgan Urban Okrug.[5]

Economy and military

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Kurgan stands on the Trans-Siberian Railway line, between Yekaterinburg and Omsk. It is served by two railway stations and the Kurgan Airport, and it was home to the Kurgan West air base during the Cold War. It is also home to Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedics, KAvZ autobus plant, and the machine building company Kurganmashzavod which produces the widely known BMP-1, BMP-2 and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.

Climate

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Kurgan has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Influenced by the Siberian High, it is a relatively dry climate. Winters are cold, although not severe by Siberian standards. Summers are variable but relatively moderate, even though heat waves can bring temperatures well above the 26 °C (79 °F) average July highs.

Climate data for Kurgan (1991–2020, extremes 1893–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)
8.0
(46.4)
17.3
(63.1)
31.3
(88.3)
36.6
(97.9)
38.5
(101.3)
41.2
(106.2)
38.5
(101.3)
35.8
(96.4)
24.6
(76.3)
14.2
(57.6)
5.8
(42.4)
41.2
(106.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −11.4
(11.5)
−8.9
(16.0)
−0.7
(30.7)
11.1
(52.0)
20.2
(68.4)
24.5
(76.1)
25.8
(78.4)
23.6
(74.5)
17.1
(62.8)
8.8
(47.8)
−2.5
(27.5)
−9.2
(15.4)
8.2
(46.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −15.5
(4.1)
−13.8
(7.2)
−5.7
(21.7)
5.1
(41.2)
13.4
(56.1)
18.2
(64.8)
19.7
(67.5)
17.4
(63.3)
11.1
(52.0)
4.1
(39.4)
−6.0
(21.2)
−12.9
(8.8)
2.9
(37.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −19.4
(−2.9)
−18.3
(−0.9)
−10.2
(13.6)
0.0
(32.0)
6.8
(44.2)
11.9
(53.4)
13.7
(56.7)
11.9
(53.4)
6.2
(43.2)
0.2
(32.4)
−9.3
(15.3)
−16.6
(2.1)
−1.9
(28.6)
Record low °C (°F) −47.9
(−54.2)
−47.9
(−54.2)
−44.3
(−47.7)
−27.2
(−17.0)
−10.5
(13.1)
−3.5
(25.7)
2.8
(37.0)
−1.6
(29.1)
−7.7
(18.1)
−24.8
(−12.6)
−38.8
(−37.8)
−46.4
(−51.5)
−47.9
(−54.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18
(0.7)
14
(0.6)
18
(0.7)
22
(0.9)
38
(1.5)
51
(2.0)
61
(2.4)
52
(2.0)
34
(1.3)
34
(1.3)
28
(1.1)
21
(0.8)
391
(15.4)
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) 24
(9.4)
30
(12)
26
(10)
4
(1.6)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
6
(2.4)
18
(7.1)
30
(12)
Average rainy days 1 1 4 10 16 16 15 17 18 14 6 2 120
Average snowy days 23 18 14 6 2 0.1 0 0 1 9 17 21 111
Average relative humidity (%) 82 80 78 66 59 63 69 72 74 77 81 81 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 72 118 185 237 279 306 300 251 180 109 69 56 2,162
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[11]
Source 2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)[12]

Educational facilities

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  • Agricultural academy
  • Kurgan State University
  • Kurgan International University
  • Military Academy
  • Railroad Academy
  • Various theaters
  • Academy of Labor and Social Relations
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Notable people

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International relations

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Twin towns and sister cities

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Kurgan is twinned with:

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Law #316
  2. ^ КУРГАНСКАЯ ГОРОДСКАЯ ДУМА (из Устава города Кургана)
  3. ^ "Паспорт муниципального образования Курганской области город Курган". City of Kurgan. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года [2010 All-Russia Population Census] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
  5. ^ a b c Law #419
  6. ^ "Об исчислении времени". Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). June 3, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Почта России. Информационно-вычислительный центр ОАСУ РПО. (Russian Post). Поиск объектов почтовой связи (Postal Objects Search) (in Russian)
  8. ^ Russian Federal State Statistics Service. Всероссийская перепись населения 2020 года. Том 1 [2020 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1] (XLS) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
  9. ^ Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian).
  10. ^ Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. 1989 – via Demoscope Weekly.
  11. ^ "Weather and Climate-The Climate of Kurgan" (in Russian). Weather and Climate. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Kurgan Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  13. ^ А.М. Прохоров, ed. (1969). "Горяев Виталий Николаевич". Большая советская энциклопедия (3 ed.). Moscow.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^ "Sister Cities". appleton.org. Retrieved August 30, 2020.

Sources

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  • Курганская областная Дума. Закон №316 от 27 декабря 2007 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Курганской области», в ред. Закона №60 от 2 июля 2015 г. «О внесении изменения в Закон Курганской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Курганской области"». Вступил в силу по истечении десяти дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новый мир", Документы, выпуск №1, 11 января 2008 г. (Kurgan Oblast Duma. Law #316 of December 27, 2007 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Kurgan Oblast, as amended by the Law #60 of July 2, 2015 On Amending the Law of Kurgan Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Kurgan Oblast". Effective as of the day ten days after the official publication date.).
  • Курганская областная Дума. Закон №419 от 6 июля 2004 г. «О наделении муниципальных образований статусом городского округа, муниципального района, сельского поселения, городского поселения, о месте нахождения представительных органов муниципальных районов, сельских поселений, об установлении наименований представительных органов муниципальных образований, глав муниципальных образований, местных администраций (исполнительно-распорядительных органов муниципальных образований)», в ред. Закона №70 от 2 июля 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Курганской области». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новый мир", №142, 31 июля 2004 г. (Kurgan Oblast Duma. Law #419 of July 6, 2004 On Granting the Municipal Formations the Status of Urban Okrug, Municipal District, Rural Settlement, Urban Settlement; on Establishing the Places Where the Representative Organs of the Municipal Districts, Rural Settlements Sit; on Establishing the Names of the Representative Organs of the Municipal Formations, of the Heads of the Municipal Formations, of the Local Administrations (the Executive Organs of the Municipal Formations), as amended by the Law #70 of July 2, 2015 On Amending Various Laws of Kurgan Oblast. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
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