Verkhovazhsky District

Verkhovazhsky District (Russian: Верхова́жский райо́н) is an administrative[1] and municipal[7] district (raion), one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. It is located in the north of the oblast and borders with Velsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in the north, Ustyansky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northeast, Tarnogsky Districts in the east, Totemsky District in the south, Syamzhensky District in the southwest, Vozhegodsky District in the west, and with Konoshsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northwest. The area of the district is 4,260 square kilometers (1,640 sq mi).[4] Its administrative center is the rural locality (a selo) of Verkhovazhye.[3] District's population: 13,898 (2010 Census);[5] 16,346 (2002 Census);[9] 18,560 (1989 Census).[10] The population of Verkhovazhye accounts for 36.2% of the district's total population.[5]

Verkhovazhsky District Верховажский район
District
Bridge over Vaga River in Chushevitsy
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Verkhovazhsky District in Vologda Oblast
Coordinates: 60°44′N 42°03′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Vologda Oblast[1]
Established	July 15, 1929[2]
Administrative center	Verkhovazhye[3]
Area [4]
• Total	4,260 km^2 (1,640 sq mi)
Population  (2010 Census)[5]
• Total	13,898
• Estimate  (2018)[6]	12,896 (−7.2%)
• Density	3.3/km^2 (8.4/sq mi)
• Urban	0%
• Rural	100%
Administrative structure
• Administrative divisions	14 Selsoviets
• Inhabited localities[3]	230 Rural localities
Municipal structure
• Municipally incorporated as	Verkhovazhsky Municipal District[7]
• Municipal divisions[7]	0 Urban settlements, 12 Rural settlements
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [8])
OKTMO ID	19616000
Website	http://www.adm-verhov.ru

Geography

The area of the district is slightly elongated from west to east. It is crossed from south to north by the Vaga River (the name of the district's administrative center, Verkhovazhye, means literally "on the Upper Vaga") and its tributaries, the largest of which are the Kuloy in the east and the Pezhma in the west. Areas in the west and in the southwest of the district belong to the basins of the tributaries of the Kubena, in the basin of the Sukhona River. The whole area of the district belongs to the basin of the Northern Dvina River.

There are many swamps in the district, most of which are located in the valleys of the Vaga and the Kuloy. The basins of the Vaga and Kuloy Rivers are separated by the chain of hills which runs through the district from north to south.

Forests cover 85% of the district's territory. In particular, spruce occupies 44% of all forested areas, birch occupies 22%, pine–25%, and aspen–3% of all forested areas.[11]

There are three natural monuments of local significance in the district protecting various landscapes,[12]

• Listvennichny Bor Landscape Zakaznik (larch wood) 20 kilometers (12 mi) south of Verkhovazhye; protects a stand of Siberian larch
• Verkhovazhsky Les Landscape Zakaznik, in the valley of the Vaga close to Verkhovazhye; protects the landscapes of the Vaga valley
• Ivoninsky Bor Landscape Zakaznik, in the valley of the Kuloy at the border with Arkhangelsk Oblast; to protect glacial lake landscapes

In addition, the Chugly Park created by Illarion Dudorov 47 kilometers (29 mi) from Verkhovazhye, is protected as a natural monument since 2002.

History

The area of Verkhovazhye and the upper course of the Vaga were already populated in the 13th century.[13] Due to its location on one of the main waterways connecting central Russia and the White Sea (it was controlled first by Novgorodians, and after the fall of Novgorod was transferred to the Grand Duchy of Moscow), and the later construction of the surface road connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk, by the 17th century Verkhovazhye became a major trading settlement. In the 18th century, industry was introduced, which included a distillery, an iron works, and a paper production plant. In the 18th century, Verkhovazhsky Posad (currently Verkhovazhye) was one of the main trading towns in the Russian North, holding two annual fairs.[13]

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty. The latter was abolished in 1796, and the part of it which included Verkhovazhye became Vologda Governorate. Since 1780, the upper Vaga lands were part of Velsky Uyezd with the seat in the town of Velsk.

In 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Velsky Uyezd was split into Velsky, Verkhovazhsky, and Ustyansky Districts. Verkhovazhsky District became a part of Nyandoma Okrug of Northern Krai.

In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district was subordinated to the central administration of Northern Krai. On July 30, 1931, Verkhovazhsky District was merged into Velsky District (with the exception of Zhikhovsky Selsoviet, which was transferred to Totemsky District), and on January 25, 1935, it was re-established.[2][14] In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast, which, in turn, was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast in 1937. Verkhovazhsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since.

Economy

Industry

The economy of the district is based on timber industry, which is, however, declining steadily. There is also food industry, mainly bread baking.[15]

Agriculture

In 2010, three collective farms, eleven privately owned mid-scale farms, and one private small-scale farms operated in the district. The main agricultural specializations were cattle breeding and flax growing. The flax growing, which was a traditional occupation of the peasants in the area, is considered to be a priority.[15]

Transportation

One of the principal highways in Russia, M8, which connects Moscow and Arkhangelsk, crosses the district from south to north, bypassing Verkhovazhye. There are also local roads, with the bus traffic originating from Verkhovazhye.

None of the rivers are navigable within the limits of the district.

Culture and recreation

The district contains 174 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[16] Most of these are wooden farms and churches built prior to 1917.

The only state museum in the district is the Historical Museum of Verkhovazhsky District, located in the selo of Verkhovazhye.[17]

References

Notes

1. Law #371-OZ
2. Справка об изменениях административно-территориального устройства и сети партийных и комсомольских органов на территории Вологодской области (1917-1991) (in Russian). Архивы России. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
3. Resolution #178
4. Верховажский район сегодня (in Russian). Администрация Верховажского муниципального района. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
5. 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.
6. "26. Численность постоянного населения Российской Федерации по муниципальным образованиям на 1 января 2018 года". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
7. Law #1110-OZ
8. "Об исчислении времени". Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). June 3, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
9. Russian 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. География Верховажского района (in Russian). Администрация Верховажского муниципального района. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
12. Природа Верховажского района (in Russian). Администрация Верховажского муниципального района. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
13. Историческая справка (in Russian). Центральная библиотека Верховажья. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
14. История Верховажского района (in Russian). Администрация Верховажского муниципального района. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
15. Социально-экономическое развитие района (in Russian). Администрация Верховажского муниципального района. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
16. Памятники истории и культуры народов Российской Федерации (in Russian). Russian Ministry of Culture. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
17. Верховажский районный исторический музей (in Russian). Российская сеть культурного наследия. Retrieved October 10, 2011.

Sources

• Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №371-ОЗ от 4 июня 1999 г. «О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области», в ред. Закона №2916-ОЗ от 7 декабря 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон области "О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №124–125, 29 июля 1999 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #371-OZ of June 4, 1999 On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Law #2916-OZ of December 7, 2012 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Правительство Вологодской области. Постановление №178 от 1 марта 2010 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц Вологодской области», в ред. Постановления №686 от 25 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Постановления Правительства области». Вступил в силу 20 марта 2010 г. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №29, 20 марта 2010 г. (Government of Vologda Oblast. Resolution #178 of March 1, 2010 On Adopting the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #686 of June 25, 2012 On Amending Various Resolutions of the Oblast Government. Effective as of March 20, 2010.).
• Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №1110-ОЗ от 6 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ Верховажского муниципального района, границах и статусе муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав», в ред. Закона №3693-ОЗ от 25 июня 2015 г. «О преобразовании некоторых муниципальных образований Верховажского муниципального района и о внесении изменений в Закон области "Об установлении границ Верховажского муниципального района, границах и статусе муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав"». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №242, 11 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #1110-OZ of December 6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of Verkhovazhsky Municipal District, on the Borders and Status of the Municipal Formations It Comprises, as amended by the Law #3693-OZ of June 25, 2015 On the Transformation of Several Municipal Formations in Verkhovazhsky Municipal District and on Amending the Law of Vologda Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of Verkhovazhsky Municipal District, on the Borders and Status of the Municipal Formations It Comprises". Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication.).