Ulyanovsk (town) Quick Facts:
- Renamed from Simbirsk to honor Lenin
- Located in Russia (on Volga River)
- Birthplace of Lenin, Karamzin, Goncharov
History: The town of Simbirsk was established in 1648 by voyevoda D.V. Kihtrovo
as a fortress to protect the Southern borders of the Moscow State.
It became the center of industry and commerce for
Middle Volga region by 1770. Its history is closely
connected with the history of Russia, for example:
Simbirsk was the birthplace of many
famous writers, poets, and statesmen:
In 1924 Simbirsk was renamed to Ulyanovsk in V.I. Ulyanov's
honor (Interestingly enough it wasn't the only town to be renamed to honor
him, another example is Petrograd, chaned to Leningrad, later changed to
St. Petersburg).
Major dates:
1648 - Foundation of the town Simbirsk
1780 - The first map of Simbirsk was drawn and approved in St. Petersburg
1780 - The city's Coat of Arms was introduced: a white column topped with a crown, against a blue ground
1796 - Formation of the Simbirsk Province
1924 - Simbirsk renamed to Ulyanovsk
1943 - Formation of the Ulyanovsk region with the center in Ulyanovsk
Location:
Simbirsk was based on a high coast of the great Russian river Volga,
on the top of Simbirsk mountain. It is situated at the
eastern part of the Russkaya ravnina (Russian plain) in the
middle Volga region, and is
bordered by Mordovia, Chuvashia, and Tatarstan.
Climate:
Moderate and continental, the average annual temperature is 4 degrees C.
Population:
About 1.5 million
urban - 72%
rural - 28%
People of over 80 nationalities inhabit the region.
Traditionally international relations are very stable.
Culture:
Ulyanovsk occupies an honorable place in the history of the
Russian culture. The old Simbirsk was called "the landowner of
the Volga region towns." One of the first libraries in the
Volga region were opened here. Concerts
of the Ulyanovsk State Academic Symphony Orchestra and
Philharmonic Society, as well as the Ulyanovsk Theater
performances, contribute greatly to the cultural
life of the city.
More information:
some of this is explained with more detail on
http://inter-sat.com/russianfriend/cities/ulyanovsk/history.htm
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