Kineshma (), the second-largest town in Ivanovo Oblast in Russia, sprawls for along the Volga River, 335 kilometers north-east of Moscow. Population:
Etymology
From a substrate Finno-Ugric language (cf. ('kine', < Proto-Finno-Permic
*känз), "hemp").
[ ]
History
Kineshma was first noticed as a
posad in 1429.
In 1504, Ivan III gave it to Prince Feodor Belsky, who escaped to
Moscow from
Lithuania and married Ivan's niece. Later on, Ivan the Terrible gave Kineshma to
Shuysky, but after the latter's death it was returned to the
Tsar in 1587. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Kineshma was a major fishing center, which supplied
sturgeon for the Tsar's table. In 1608, it was twice ravaged by the Poles. Throughout its history, Kineshma belonged to different Russian regions, including Archangelgorod Governorate, Yaroslavl Province of Saint Petersburg Governorate, and Moscow Governorate.
Administrative and municipal status
Within the framework of administrative divisions, Kineshma serves as the administrative center of Kineshemsky District,
[Law #145-OZ] even though it is not a part of it.
[Law #145-OZ stipulates that the borders of the administrative districts are identical to the borders of the municipal districts. The Law #42-OZ, which describes the borders and the composition of Kineshemsky District, does not list the town of Kineshma as a part of that district.] As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the
Town of Kineshma—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.
As a municipal division, the Town of Kineshma is incorporated as
Kineshma Urban Okrug.
[Law #124-OZ]
Economy
Since the 18th century, the town's main industry has been textile manufacturing. Like all the textile centers in Russia, the town's prosperity declined after the
perestroika.
Architecture
Kineshma's principal landmark is the Trinity Cathedral, built in 1838–1845 to a typical Neoclassical design. There are also several 18th-century churches in the town. The neighborhoods of Kineshma contain estates and museums of Alexander Ostrovsky, Alexander Borodin, and
Fyodor Bredikhin.
In 2010, Kineshma was granted status of a town of historical significance.
Religion
Currently there are eleven churches, nine of which are active, and three chapels.
Notable people
-
Alexander Borodin, composer and chemist
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Fyodor Bredikhin, astronomer
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Sergey Klyugin, Olympic high jumper
-
Alexander Ostrovsky, writer
-
Andrei Semenov, mixed martial artist
-
Kostromin, musical artist
Twin towns – sister cities
Kineshma is
Sister city with:
See also
Notes
Sources
External links
