Murmansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia, which is located in the northwestern part of the country, occupying mostly the Kola Peninsula. The oblast itself was established on May 28, 1938, but some kind of administrative organization of the territory existed here since at least the 13th century. As of the 2002 Census, Russians account for the majority of the oblast's population (85.3%, or 760,862 people), with the indigenous Sami constituting only a 0.20% minority (1,769 people).
Since establishing and maintaining the structure of the administrative divisions of the federal subjects is not explicitly specified in the Constitution of Russia as the responsibility of the federal government, this task falls within the scope of the responsibilities of Murmansk Oblast itself.The list of the responsibilities of the federal government of the Russian Federation is specified in Article 71 of the Constitution. Article 72 lists the joint responsibilities of the federal government of the Russian Federation and the governments of the federal subjects. Changes of the administrative-territorial structure of Murmansk Oblast are authorized by the Murmansk Oblast Duma.Law No. 96-01-ZMO
The oblast's administrative divisions remained largely unchanged from the structure used during the Soviet era, with the notable exception of selsoviets—a low-level administrative unit type abolished after the new law on the administrative-territorial divisions had been adopted in January 1998.
Administrative and municipal divisions
Division Structure OKATO OKTMO Urban-type settlement/district-level town*AdministrativeMunicipal Alexandrovsk (Александровск) city urban okrug 47 52547 52747 529 47 737 Polyarny (Полярный) town* Snezhnogorsk (Снежногорск) town* Gadzhiyevo (Гаджиево) town* Ostrovnoy (Островной) city urban okrug 47 531 47 731 Severomorsk (Североморск) city urban okrug 47 530 47 730 Safonovo (Сафоново) Zaozyorsk (Заозёрск) city urban okrug 47 533 47 733 Vidyayevo (Видяево) urban-type settlement urban okrug 47 000 47 735 Murmansk (Мурманск) city urban okrug 47 401 47 701 ↳ Leninsky (Ленинский) 47 401 ↳ Oktyabrsky 47 401 ↳ Pervomaysky (Первомайский) 47 401 Apatity (Апатиты) city urban okrug 47 405 47 705 Kirovsk (Кировск) city urban okrug 47 412 47 712 Monchegorsk (Мончегорск) city urban okrug 47 415 47 715 Olenegorsk (Оленегорск) city urban okrug 47 417 47 717 Polyarnye Zori (Полярные Зори) city urban okrug 47 419 47 719 Kovdorsky (Ковдорский) district 47 203 47 703 Kovdor (Ковдор) town* Kolsky (Кольский) district 47 205 47 605 Kola (Кола) town* Kildinstroy (Кильдинстрой) Molochny (Молочный) Murmashi (Мурмаши) Tumanny (Туманный) Verkhnetulomsky (Верхнетуломский) Kandalakshsky (Кандалакшский) district 47 408 47 608 Kandalaksha (Кандалакша) town* Zelenoborsky (Зеленоборский) Lovozersky (Ловозерский) district 47 210 47 610 Revda (Ревда) Pechengsky (Печенгский) district 47 215 47 615 Zapolyarny (Заполярный) town* Nikel (Никель) Pechenga (Печенга) Tersky (Терский) district 47 220 47 620 Umba (Умба)
Historical background The territory on which modern Murmansk Oblast is located has been settled by humans since the 3rd millennium BCE,Atlas of Murmansk Oblast, p. V and by the end of the 1st millennium CE, it was settled only by the Sami people.Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 16 In the 12th century, Russian Pomors from the shores of Onega Bay and in the lower reaches of the Northern Dvina River started regular hunting and fishing visits to the area and started barter trade with the Sami. They also called the White Sea coast of the peninsula Tersky Coast, or Terskaya Land. Pomors were soon followed by the tribute collectors from the Novgorod Republic, and the Kola Peninsula gradually became a part of the Novgorodian lands. A 1265 treaty of Yaroslav Yaroslavich with Novgorod mentions Tre Volost, which continued to be mentioned in other documents until as late as 1471. Another known administrative divisions in this area was Kolo Volost, which bordered Tre approximately along the line between Kildin Island and Turiy Headland of the Turiy Peninsula. Kolo Volost laid to the west of that line, while Tre was situated to the east of it.
In the 15th century, Novgorodians started to establish permanent settlements on the Kola Peninsula.Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 18 Administratively, this territory was divided into Varzuzhskaya and Umbskaya Volosts, which were governed by a posadnik from the area of the Northern Dvina. The Novgorod Republic lost control of both of these volosts to the Grand Duchy of Moscow after the Battle of Shelon in 1471, and the republic itself ceased to exist in 1478 when Ivan III took the city of Novgorod. All Novgorod territories, including those on the Kola Peninsula, became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
In the second half of the 16th century, King Frederick II of Denmark–Norway demanded the Tsardom of Russia to cede the peninsula. Russia declined, and in order to organize adequate defenses established the position of a voyevoda, who sat in Kola, which became an administrative center of the region.Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 19 Newly established Kolsky Uyezd covered most of the territory of the modern oblast, and continued to exist well into the 19th century.
In 1854, after having been reduced nearly to ashes as a result of a bombardment by a British ship,Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 22 the town of Kola went into decline. As a result, on , 1858, Tsar Alexander II approved a State Council opinion "On Changing the Governance in the Town of Kola and in Kolsky Uyezd" that Kolsky Uyezd be abolished and its territory merged into Kemsky Uyezd. However, on , 1883 when Tsar Alexander III approved a new opinion of the State Council, the uyezd was restored, although the territory of the restored uyezd was smaller than its pre-1858 territory.
In 1896, Alexandrovsk was founded and grew in size so quickly that it was granted town status in 1899; Kolsky Uyezd was renamed Alexandrovsky on that occasion.Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 24 In 1916, Romanov-na-Murmane (modern Murmansk) was founded and quickly grew to become the largest city on the peninsula.
When the White movement controlled the northwest of Russia in 1918–1920, Alexandrovsky Uyezd was included into Northern Oblast.Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 26 On February 2, 1920, Murmansk Governorate was established by the Resolution of the Provisional Government of Northern Oblast; it included the territory of Alexandrovsky Uyezd. The uyezd, however, was restored in its 1917 borders after Murmansk Governorate was abolished effective February 21, 1920 when the Soviet power was restored on the Kola Peninsula.
In June 1921, Alexandrovsky Uyezd was transformed into Murmansk Governorate by the Soviet government.Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 28 On August 1, 1927, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) issued two Resolutions: "On the Establishment of Leningrad Oblast" and "On the Borders and Composition of the Okrugs of Leningrad Oblast", according to which Murmansk Governorate was transformed into Murmansk Okrug (which was divided into six districts) and included into Leningrad Oblast.Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 34 This arrangement existed until May 28, 1938, when the okrug was separated from Leningrad Oblast, merged with Kandalakshsky District of the Karelian ASSR, and transformed into Murmansk Oblast.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR of September 11, 1938, the administrative center of Polyarny District was moved from Murmansk to Ura-GubaAdministrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 62 and in December 1938, new Monchegorsky District was formed. In September 1939, the rural locality of Polyarnoye was transformed into a town under oblast jurisdiction and renamed Polyarny and the town Kandalaksha was separated from Kandalakshsky District and elevated to the same status in February 1940.
After the Winter War of 1939–1940, the western parts of the Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas were ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union by the Moscow Peace Treaty. By the July 13, 1940 Decision of the Murmansk Oblast Executive Committee, these territories were appended to Polyarny District of Murmansk Oblast.
On July 21, 1945, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union decreed to establish Pechengsky District with the administrative center in Nikel on the territory of Petsamo ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union as part of the Moscow Armistice signed on September 19, 1944 and to include this district as a part of Murmansk Oblast. In 1947, Finland additionally sold the remaining Jäniskoski area with its hydroelectric plant, in exchange for Soviet confiscated German investments in Finland. Since then, with the exception of a minor transfer in 1987, the external borders of the oblast remained unchanged.
In August 1948, Kandalakshsky District was abolished and its territory administratively subordinated to the town of Kandalaksha. In December 1949, when by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Monchegorsk was elevated in status to that of a town under oblast jurisdiction, with the former Monchegorsky District's territory passing into its subordination.
The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union of March 13, 1951 reinstated Kandalakshsky District in its old borders, and Kandalaksha again became its administrative center.
On April 18, 1951, Vayenga was elevated in status to that of a town under oblast jurisdiction and renamed Severomorsk. On April 26, 1951, by the Decision of Murmansk Oblast Executive Committee, several inhabited localities of Polyarny District were passed into its jurisdiction.
Kirovsk was elevated in status to that of a town under oblast jurisdiction on May 6, 1954 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union; at the same time Kirovsky District was abolished, and its territory was subordinated to Kirovsk. Polyarny, on the other hand, was demoted to a town under district jurisdiction and subordinated to Polyarny District by the June 14, 1956 Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR of March 19, 1959, the Councils of Deputies of Kandalaksha and of Kandalakshsky District were merged into one Kandalaksha Town Council of Deputies. While the district was nominally retained as a separate administrative division, all its subdivisions were administratively subordinated to the town's Council of Deputies.
The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of July 9, 1960 abolished Polyarny District, the territory of which was divided between Kolsky, Pechengsky, and Teribersky Districts, with the town of Polyarny being administratively subordinated to the town of Severomorsk.Decree #741/18 At the same time, the territory of Teribersky District was also merged with the territory of Severomorsk, to which the district's subdivisions were subordinated. Teribersky District was nominally retained as an administrative division and renamed Severomorsky.
Saamsky District was abolished by the Decision of the Murmansk Oblast Executive Committee of January 26, 1963. The district's selsoviets were transferred to Lovozersky District, while Gremikha, the administrative center of the former district, was subordinated to Severomorsk.