Zapadnodvinsky District
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Zapadnodvinsky District () is an administrative and municipalLaw #4-ZO district (
raion A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is c ...
), one of the thirty-six in
Tver Oblast Tver Oblast (, ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was known as Kalinin Oblast (). Population: Tver Oblast is a region of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno. Much o ...
,
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
. It is located in the west of the
oblast An oblast ( or ) is a type of administrative division in Bulgaria and several post-Soviet states, including Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Historically, it was used in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The term ''oblast'' is often translated i ...
and borders with
Toropetsky District Toropetsky District () is an administrative and municipalLaw #4-ZO district (raion), one of the administrative divisions of Tver Oblast, thirty-six in Tver Oblast, Russia. It is located in the west of the oblast and borders with Kholmsky District, ...
in the north, Andreapolsky District in the northeast, Nelidovsky District in the east, Zharkovsky District in the southeast, Velizhsky District of
Smolensk Oblast Smolensk Oblast (), informally also called Smolenshchina (), is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative centre is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Smolensk. As of the 2021 Russ ...
in the south, and with Kunyinsky District of
Pskov Oblast Pskov Oblast () is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in the west of the country. Its administrative center is the Classification of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Pskov. As of the Russian Census ...
in the west. The area of the district is . Its
administrative center An administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune, is located. In countries with French as the administrative language, such as Belgiu ...
is the
town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
of Zapadnaya Dvina. Population: 16,018 ( 2010 Census); The population of Zapadnaya Dvina accounts for 58.6% of the district's total population.


Geography

The whole area in the district belongs to the drainage basin of the
Daugava The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of ...
, known in Russia as the Western Dvina. The Westerd Dvina itself crosses the district from the northwest to the southeast, and a stretch of it makes the border to Pskov Oblast. The major tributaries of the Western Dvina within the district are the Velesa (left), the Toropa (right), and the Mezha (left). The Mezha makes the border to Zharkovsky District. 64% of the area of the district is forested.


History

The Western Dvina was one of the most important Eastern European waterways, and the area of the district was populated since prehistory, as indicated by archaeological evidence. In the beginning of the 14th century, it was included into the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a sovereign state in northeastern Europe that existed from the 13th century, succeeding the Kingdom of Lithuania, to the late 18th century, when the territory was suppressed during the 1795 Partitions of Poland, ...
and remained there for around 150 years. In the 16th century, it went to the
Grand Duchy of Moscow The Grand Principality of Moscow, or Muscovy, known as the Principality of Moscow until 1389, was a late medieval Russian monarchy. Its capital was the city of Moscow. Originally established as a minor principality in the 13th century, the gra ...
. In 1581, in the course of the
Livonian War The Livonian War (1558–1583) concerned control of Terra Mariana, Old Livonia (in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia). The Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of the Denmark–Norway, Dano-Norwegian Realm, the Kingdom ...
, it was transferred to
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
, and stayed here until 1678, when the northern part of the area was transferred to Russia. The southern part remained in Poland until the
First Partition of Poland The First Partition of Poland took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that eventually ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The growth of power in the Russian Empire threatened the Kingdom of Prussia an ...
in 1772. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great Peter I (, ; – ), better known as Peter the Great, was the Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia, Tsar of all Russia from 1682 and the first Emperor of Russia, Emperor of all Russia from 1721 until his death in 1725. He reigned j ...
, the north of the area (the right bank of the Western Dvina) was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
Saint Petersburg Governorate Saint Petersburg Governorate was a province (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire, with its capital in Saint Petersburg. The governorate was composed of of area and 2,112,033 inhabitants. It was bordered by Governorate of Estonia, Estonian and G ...
). In 1727, separate
Novgorod Governorate Novgorod Governorate was an administrative-territorial unit (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR, which existed from 1727 to 1776 and from 1796 to 1927. Its administrative cent ...
was split off, and in 1772,
Pskov Governorate Pskov Governorate () was an administrative-territorial unit (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR, which existed in 1772–1777 and 1796–1927. Its seat was located in Opochka b ...
(which between 1777 and 1796 existed as
Pskov Viceroyalty Pskov Viceroyalty () was an administrative-territorial unit ('' namestnichestvo'') of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1777–1796. The seat of the Viceroyalty was located in Pskov. Both the predecessor and the successor of the viceroyalty ...
) was established. The northern part of the contemporary Zapadnodvinsky District was included into
Toropetsky Uyezd Toropetsky Uyezd (''Торо́пецкий уе́зд'') was one of the subdivisions of the Pskov Governorate of the Russian Empire. It was situated in the southeastern part of the governorate. Its administrative centre was Toropets. Demographics ...
of Pskov Governorate. Zapadnaya Dvina was founded in 1900 as a station on the railway connecting Moscow and Riga. The left bank of the Western Dvina in 1708 was included into Belsky Uyezd of
Smolensk Governorate Smolensk Governorate () was an administrative-territorial unit ('' guberniya'') of the Tsardom of Russia, the Russian Empire, and the Russian SFSR. It existed, with interruptions, between 1708 and 1929. Smolensk Governorate, together with seven o ...
and remained there until 1929, with the exception of the brief periods between 1713 and 1726, when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into
Smolensk Viceroyalty Smolensk is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It ...
. The southern part of the area in 1772 was included into newly established Pskov Governorate. In 1777, it was transferred to Polotsk Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished and the area was transferred to Belarus Governorate; since 1802 to
Vitebsk Governorate Vitebsk Governorate (, ) was an administrative-territorial unit ('' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire, with the seat of governorship in Vitebsk. It was established in 1802 by splitting Belarusian Governorate and existed until 1924. Today most ...
. It belonged to Velizhsky Uyezd. After 1919, Vitebsk Governorate was a part of
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (Russian SFSR or RSFSR), previously known as the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and the Russian Soviet Republic, and unofficially as Soviet Russia,Declaration of Rights of the labo ...
. In 1924, Vitebsk Governorate was abolished, and Velizhsky Uyezd was transferred to Pskov Governorate. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Oktyabrsky District was established, with the administrative center in the selo of Staraya Toropa. Pskov Governorate was abolished as well, and the district became a part of
Velikiye Luki Okrug Veliky, or similar, may refer to: * Veliky (rural locality) (''Velikaya'', ''Velikoye''), name of several rural localities in Russia * Veliky (surname) * Velikaya, a river in Pskov Oblast, Russia * Velikaya (Chukotka), a river in Chukotka, Russia * ...
of
Leningrad Oblast Leningrad Oblast (, ; ; ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). The oblast has an area of and a population of 2,000,997 (2021 Russian census, 2021 Census); up from 1,716,868 recorded in the 2010 Russian census ...
. The district center was subsequently moved to the settlement of Zapadnaya Dvina. On June 17, 1929, the district was transferred to
Western Oblast Western Oblast () was an administrative-territorial unit (''oblast'') of the Russian SFSR from 1929 to 1937. Its seat was in the city of Smolensk. The oblast was located in the west of European Russia, and its territory is currently divided b ...
. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935
Kalinin Oblast Tver Oblast (, ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was known as Kalinin Oblast (). Population: Tver Oblast is a region of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno. Much of ...
was established, and Oktyabrsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast. In 1937, Zapadnaya Dvina was granted town status. Between September 1941 and January 1942, Oktyabrsky District was occupied by
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
troops. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and Oktyabrsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast. On February 13, 1963 it was merged with a part of Nelidovsky District to form Zapadnodvinsky District, with the administrative center in Zapadnaya Dvina. In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast. On August 1, 1927 Ilyinsky District with the administrative center located in the selo of Ilyino was established as well. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast, and on June 17, 1929 with the rest of the okrug it was transferred to Western Oblast. On January 29, 1935 the district was transferred to Kalinin Oblast, on August 22, 1944 to Velikiye Luki Oblast, and on October 2, 1957 back to Kalinin Oblast. On January 12, 1960 Ilyinsky District was abolished and merged into Oktyabrsky District.


Economy


Industry

90% of the economy of the district is related to timber production.


Agriculture

The main agricultural specialization of the district is cattle breeding with meat and milk production.


Transportation

The railway which connects Moscow and
Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
via
Rzhev Rzhev ( rus, Ржев, p=ˈrʐɛf) is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population: Hist ...
, crosses the district from east to west. There is passenger railway traffic. Zapadnaya Dvina is the biggest railway station in the district. The M9 highway connecting Moscow with Riga also crosses the district, passing just north of Zapadnaya Dvina. Paved roads to Zharkovsky,
Ostashkov Ostashkov () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Ostashkovsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, on a peninsula at the southern shore of Lake Seliger, west of Tver, the administrative center of the ...
via Andreapol, and
Toropets Toropets () is a town and the administrative center of Toropetsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located where the Toropa River enters Lake Solomennoye. Population: History In 1074, when the town was first mentioned in chronicles, Torop ...
branch off. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Zapadnaya Dvina.


Culture and recreation

The district contains nine cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally fifty-four objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federal monuments are the Saint Saviour Church in the selo of Kochevitsy, the Transfiguration Church in the village of Pesno, the Trinity Church in the selo of Pyatiusovo, the Church of Saint Sergius of Radonezh in the selo of
Sopot Sopot (; or ) is a seaside resort city in Pomerelia on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is located in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomerania Province and has the City with powiat ri ...
, as well as two archaeological sites. In the urban-type settlement of Staraya Toropa, there is a local museum.


References


Notes


Sources

* * {{Use mdy dates, date=April 2013 Districts of Tver Oblast States and territories established in 1963