Kineshma

Kineshma (Russian: Кинешма), the second-largest town in Ivanovo Oblast in Russia, sprawls for 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) along the Volga River, 335 kilometers north-east of Moscow. Population: 77,694 (2021 Census);^[7] 88,164 (2010 Census);^[2] 95,233 (2002 Census);^[8] 105,037 (1989 Soviet census).^[9]

Kineshma Кинешма
Town[1]
View of Kineshma from the Volga
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Kineshma
Kineshma Location of Kineshma Show map of Russia Kineshma Kineshma (Ivanovo Oblast) Show map of Ivanovo Oblast
Coordinates: 57°26′N 42°08′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Ivanovo Oblast[1]
First mentioned	1429
Area
• Total	49 km2 (19 sq mi)
Elevation	110 m (360 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[2]
• Total	88,164
• Rank	191st in 2010
• Density	1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi)
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	Town of Kineshma[3]
• Capital of	Kineshemsky District,[1] Town of Kineshma
Municipal status
• Urban okrug	Kineshma Urban Okrug[4]
• Capital of	Kineshma Urban Okrug,[4] Kineshemsky Municipal District[4]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [5])
Postal code(s)[6]	155800 - 155819
Dialing code(s)	+7 49331
OKTMO ID	24705000001
Website	www.admkineshma.ru

Etymology

From a substrate Finno-Ugric language (cf. Meadow Mari: кыне ('kine', < Proto-Finno-Permic *känз), "hemp").^[10]

History

Kineshma was first noticed as a posad in 1429.^[11] 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 Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, 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,^[1] even though it is not a part of it.^[3] 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.^[3] As a municipal division, the Town of Kineshma is incorporated as Kineshma Urban Okrug.^[4]

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. ^{[citation needed]}

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

Kineshma before 1917

Currently there are eleven churches, nine of which are active, and three chapels.

Notable people

• Alexander Borodin, composer and chemist
• Fyodor Bredikhin, astronomer
• Sergey Klyugin, Olympic high jumper
• Alexander Ostrovsky, writer
• Andrei Semenov, mixed martial artist
• Kostromin, musical artist

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia

Kineshma is twinned with:^[12]

• Vantaa, Finland
• Baranavichy, Belarus
• Gudauta, Abkhazia (De facto; de jure part of Georgia)

See also

• Kineshma Bridge
• Dmitrievsky Chemical Plant