Kirov (, ), formerly known as Vyatka () until 1934 and as Khlynov () from 1457 to 1780,Official website of Kirov. Brief Historical Reference is the largest city and administrative center of Kirov Oblast, Russia. It is situated on the Vyatka River in European Russia, northeast of Moscow. Its population was 468,212 in 2021, up to roughly 750 thousand residents in the urban agglomeration.
The city was founded in 1374 (according to other sources in 1181). It was the center of Vyatka Land, which was settled by Russians during the Middle Ages. It was renamed Kirov after the Bolshevik politician Sergei Kirov in 1934, even though he never visited the city.
It is an important economic, transportation, industrial, educational and cultural center in Volga-Vyatka region. It is also home to the many Russian folk crafts, such as Dymkovo toys, vyatka lace and carving on a capa-root. In the historic part of the city there are many universities, theaters, museums and churches.
History Principality and republic
The native Slavic tribe in Central Russia and the Volga region, the Vyatichi (also called Viatichi), mixed here with the Novgorodian Slovenes and Finno-Ugric peoples.
According to the "Tale of the Vyatka Country", the city was founded on the Balaskov Field either in 1181 or in 1199. Based on archaeological data, the emergence of the city should be attributed to the middle-end of the 13 century.
Kirov itself was first mentioned (as Vyatka) for the first time in 1374, when Novgorodian ushkuyniks plundered it on their way to Bolghar. Vyatka was governed by a public assembly (veche) like the other northern Russian republics of Pskov and Novgorod.
At different times in the late 14th and 15th centuries, Vyatka militias raided Ustyug, Novgorod and Tatar lands in the Kama and Volga regions.
In 1412, a battle took place near the city between the Vyatchans and Ustyuzhans. The battle took place at night in a ravine, later named Razderikhinsky. According to one version, the Ustyuzhans came to the aid of the Vyatchans for defense against the Tatars, according to another, they, in alliance with the Moscow princes, wanted to capture the city. In memory of those events, the Vyatka folk festival "Svistoplyaska" appeared, and a chapel in the name of Archangel Michael was built on the bank of the ravine.
Vyatka supported Yury of Zvenigorod during the Muscovite Civil War, and after his party lost to the victorious Vasily II, the Muscovite armies were sent twice to subjugate Vyatka until it was eventually forced to accept the suzerainty of Moscow, while retaining a significant amount of autonomy. In 1469, Vyatka allied with Khan Ibrahim of the Khanate of Kazan and did not take part in the campaign of Ivan III against the khanate.
Until the end of the 15 century, Vyatka land was a self-governing territory. The People's Assembly acted as the main governing body. The most influential group of the feudal class were the boyars, followed by merchants and clergy. The rest of the Vyatchans represented the free communal population and consisted of peasants and artisans.
After several unsuccessful campaigns by Moscow against Vyatka in the 1480s, the latter was finally annexed in 1489.
Tsarist Russia In the 17 century, the military significance of Khlynov was replaced by trade: merchants from Siberia, the Urals, Pomerania and other regions came here for the Semenovskaya Fair. In 1657, the Vyatka Diocese was established. It was here that the Vyatka chronicles were created. The Kremlin was completely rebuilt during the reign of Alexis of Russia. Under his son Peter, manufactory production was established.
In 1694, the merchant Spiridon Lyangusov conducted the first trade caravan from Moscow to China after the conclusion of the Russian-Chinese treaty, which allowed mutual trade.
Khlynov became known throughout Russia for its clay statuettes and whistles. The town's oldest surviving monument is the Assumption Cathedral (1689), an imposing structure surmounted by five globular domes.
In 1780, Catherine the Great renamed the town Vyatka and made it the seat of Vyatka Governorate. The town also served as a place of exile, notably for Alexander Herzen, Alexander Vitberg, and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. As of 1860, there were 14 industrial factories. As of 1861, the city had 1,737 houses, 409 shops, 18 churches, two monasteries, two public parks, a hospital, a prison, a public library, an asylum, and several schools. The city hosted annual fairs at the turn of August and September. Goods traded there included grain, cloth, flaxseed, hempseed, flax, and butter. By the end of the 19th century, it was an important station on the Trans-Siberian railway.
Soviet period On the eve of the February Revolution, there was no particular aggravation of the social and political struggle in Vyatka province and Vyatka. The October revolution of the Bolsheviks in Petrograd was declared illegal, the provincial governorate remained loyal to the Provisional Government.
The Bolsheviks, until the end of the autumn of 1917, had neither wide fame nor great influence in the city. The arriving detachments of soldiers and sailors, together with local Red Army, played a decisive role in the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks, which did not happen immediately.
In the 1930s, the destruction of the temple city architecture began. The ensemble of the city Kremlin has been almost completely lost. In 1931 the Holy Trinity Cathedral was destroyed, in 1937 the Alexander Nevsky was blown up. Many temples managed to survive, but they were rebuilt for other, non-religious needs. Thus, the Spassky Cathedral and the Trifonov Monastery lost their towers. The Cathedral mosque, underwent the same process. In the future, the appearance of these buildings will be restored.
On 1934, regular public transport appeared in the city for the first time.
In December 1934, it was renamed after the Soviet communist party functionary Sergey Kirov, who was assassinated on December 1, who was born in nearby Urzhum, despite him never visiting the city himself.
During the Second World War, due to the evacuation of machine-building plants from Moscow and Leningrad, the Kirov industry was mainly formed.
In the post-war years, new industrial and agricultural enterprises came into operation, active development and mass housing construction began in the western and southern parts of the city.
Recent history
There have been movements to restore the city's original name of Vyatka, although none of them have been successful so far.
Since the 2010s, the city has been actively positioning itself as a venue for various forums and festivals. In particular, the Golden Calf International Short Film Festival, the All-Russian Urban Forum, and the sites of the Atomic Energy Information Center began to be held in the city.
In 2024, the city of Kirov commemorated its 650th anniversary with a series of events and initiatives. Preparations included infrastructure renovations, cultural programs, educational and publishing activities, as well as exhibitions and festivals. The anniversary was marked on June 12 (City Day) and September 22 (City Foundation Day), with over 100 events organized. Key highlights included the theatrical show "The City Created by You", a concert by the band Lyube, a fireworks display, a gastronomic festival, and a performance by the aerobatic team "Strizhi".
Administrative and municipal status
Kirov is the administrative center of the oblast.Law #387-ZO Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with 134 rural localities, incorporated as the City of Kirov—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the City of Kirov is incorporated as Kirov Urban Okrug.Law #284-ZO
The city of Kirov is divided into 4 urban districts: Leninsky, Oktyabrsky, Pervomaysky and Novovyatsky.
Economy
The basis of the economic potential of the city of Kirov is the manufacturing sector — manufacturing industries; enterprises that produce and distribute electricity, gas and water; transport, construction organizations and communication enterprises.
The city of Kirov is known in Russia and abroad for the products of heavy engineering, aircraft and machine tool construction, woodworking and light industry, folk crafts. Washing machines, electric stoves, furniture, skis, wood stove, tires, leather and fur products are produced here.
The leading industries of the city of Kirov are: mechanical engineering and metalworking, metallurgical production, production of rubber and plastic products, food production, woodworking and pulp and paper industry, electric power industry. Their share in the volume of industrial production is 81%.
Main sights
The main sights of the city are concentrated near Spasskaya Street in the historical part of the city. At the beginning of this street is the ensemble of the Trifonov Monastery, founded in 1580, which includes the main building – the Uspenskiy Cathedral, and several churches around it, surrounded by walls with towers. The monastery has extensive views from the "Arch of the Vyatka Kremlin", located on a hill on the opposite side of Spasskaya Street. The "Arch of the Vyatka Kremlin" actually refers to the former bishop's compound, which was blown up in the 1930s.
Next to the complex of the Trifonov Monastery is the Yezhovsky Lake, along which there is an eco-trail. Among other things, there is a pier on it, which offers a view of the monastery.
Further down Spasskaya Street there is a Klobukov store – one of the first shopping centers of pre-revolutionary Vyatka, made in the Art Nouveau style. Next to it is the Spassky Cathedral, one of the most iconic temples of the city, founded in 1763.
Starting from Klobukov's shop, the pedestrian part of Spasskaya Street begins. On its sides, in the buildings of the former shopping malls, there are the Kirov Museum of Local Lore, the Ice cream Museum, the Chocolate Museum, the "Theater on Spasskaya". Up to Karl Marx Street, there are architectural monuments, cafes and restaurants on Spasskaya Street. These include the building of the main post office – a rare example of constructivism in Vyatka. The Vasnetsov Brothers Art Museum is located at the intersection of Spasskaya and Karl Marx Streets.
Along the Embankment of the Green on a high hill, there is the Alexander Garden, one of the first parks of the city, which has views over the Vyatka River. On the edge of the hill there are white rotundas, which have become one of the symbols of the city. The embankment stretches from the old bridge and ends with a descent to the complex of the Trifonov Monastery.
Along the southern part of Oktyabrsky Avenue, after the intersection with Vorovsky Street, the Central Park of the city is laid out. An artificial two-level pond has been created in the park, on top of which the Diorama building is located. Created according to the original project, it has the shape of a waving flag. A bas-relief was constructed on the upper part. The Diorama building houses the Museum of Revolutionary Events in Vyatka. The Kirov Circus and the Ferris Wheel are also located on the territory of the Central Park.A ravine runs through the central part of the city, along Gorbachev Street. Its relief was beaten in the area of the intersection of Gorbachev and Karl Marx Streets, where the Botanical Garden at Vyatka University and the square of the 60th anniversary of the USSR (Square named after Grin) were created.
The oldest monument of civil architecture is a Piteyniy dom () house located at the intersection of Spasskaya and Kazanskaya streets. The earliest mention of the house dates back to 1771. Now there are exhibitions of the regional Museum of local lore.