Chistopol

Chistopol (Russian: Чи́стополь; Tatar: Чистай; Chuvash: Чистай, Çistay) is a town in Tatarstan, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kuybyshev Reservoir, on the Kama River. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 60,755.^[2]

Chistopol Чистополь
Town[1]
View of Chistopol
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Chistopol
Chistopol Location of Chistopol Show map of Russia Chistopol Chistopol (Tatarstan) Show map of Tatarstan
Coordinates: 55°21′53″N 50°37′34″E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Tatarstan[1]
First mentioned	the end of the 17th century
Town status since	1781
Elevation	100 m (300 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[2]
• Total	60,755
• Rank	268th in 2010
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	town of republic significance of Chistopol[1]
• Capital of	town of republic significance of Chistopol,[1] Chistopolsky District[1]
Municipal status
• Municipal district	Chistopolsky Municipal District[3]
• Urban settlement	Chistopol Urban Settlement[3]
• Capital of	Chistopolsky Municipal District,[3] Chistopol Urban Settlement[3]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [4])
Postal code(s)[5]	422980–422986, 422988, 422999
Dialing code(s)	+7 84342
OKTMO ID	92659101001
Website	chistopol.tatarstan.ru

Chistopol population

2010 Census	60,755[2]
2002 Census	63,029[6]
1989 Census	65,468[7]
1979 Census	64,285[8]

History

At the end of the 19th century, Chistopol became a major center of trade for grain. Prior to 1917, it was the second largest town (after Kazan) in Kazan Governorate.

During the Great Patriotic War, Chistopol become a shelter for the Union of Soviet Writers, which included Boris Pasternak, Leonid Leonov and other notables.

The town is notable for its Vostok watches factory, which was founded in 1942.

Chistopol was ranked first among Category III cities (population up to 100,000) in the 2015 edition of Most Comfortable City in Russia.^[9]

Panorama of the central part of Chistopol

In the year 1781, Empress Catherine the Great established the center of the “Chistopol District of the Kazan Governorate” (Rusmania). In the 19th century, the city flourished in grain production. Nearly half of its lands were used for grain production along with trade. Its location and docks allowed for many resources and in due time, it became the second largest city in the Kazan Governorate (Rusmania). Following World War 2, many acclaimed writers were placed in Chistopol. Not long after this, a crucial watch factory was also transferred to the city in 1942. ‘Vostok’ watches are now very prominent in the town. Since then, the city has preserved its 19th century feel and remains a historical center.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Chistopol serves as the administrative center of Chistopolsky District, even though it is not a part of it.^[1] As an administrative division, it is, together with one rural locality (the settlement of Yeryklinsky), incorporated separately as the town of republic significance of Chistopol—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[1] As a municipal division, the town of republic significance of Chistopol is incorporated within Chistopolsky Municipal District as Chistopol Urban Settlement.^[3]

Transportation

The town is served by Chistopol Airport.

Notable people

• Alexander Butlerov, born in Chistopol, chemist
• Sofia Gubaidulina, born in Chistopol, composer
• Nikolay Likhachyov, born in Chistopol, scientist
• Anatoly Marchenko, died in Chistopol, dissident
• Boris Pasternak, evacuated to Chistopol during the second world war, writer
• Vazif Meylanov, incarcerated in Chistopol, dissident