Subdivisions of Kiev

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Subdivisions of Kiev (Ukrainian: Kиїв, Kyiv), the capital of Ukraine, include the formal administrative subdivision into raions and the more detailed informal subdivision into historical neighborhoods.

Contents 1 History of subdivision 2 Raions of Kiev 3 Historical neighborhoods 4 Practical orientation patterns 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History of subdivision

The first known formal subdivision of Kiev dates to 1810 when the city was subdivided into 4 parts: Pechersk, Starokyiv, and the first and the second parts of Podil. In 1833-1834 according to Tsar Nicholas I's decree, Kiev was subdivided into 6 police raions; later being increased to 10. As of 1917, there were 8 Raion Councils (Duma), which were reorganized by bolsheviks into 6 Party-Territory Raions.

Over the Soviet time, as city was expanding, the number of raions was gradually increasing. The raions has been also commonly named after Soviet party leaders, and as political situation was changing and some leaders were overturned by the other, so raion names were also changing.

The last raion reform took place in 2001 when the number of raions has been decreased from 14 to 10.

Under Oleksandr Omelchenko (mayor from 1999 to 2006), there were further plans for the merger of some raions and revision of their boundaries, and the total number of raions had been planned to be decreased from 10 to 7. With the election of the new mayor-elect (Leonid Chernovetskyi) in 2006, these plans were conducted.

[edit] Raions of Kiev

Administratively, the city is divided into raions (districts), which have their own units of central and local government with jurisdiction over a limited scope of affairs.

Further information: Legal status and local government of Kiev.

The last Kiev raion reorganization took place in 2001, and currently Kiev raions are:

• Darnytskyi Raion (Дарницький район)
• Desanianskyi Raion (Деснянський район; after the Desna river)
• Dniprovskyi Raion (Дніпровський район; after the Dnieper river)
• Holosiivskyi Raion (Голосіївський район)
• Obolonskyi Raion (Оболонський район)
• Pecherskyi Raion (Печерський район)
• Podilskyi Raion (Подільський район)
• Shevchenkivskyi Raion (Шевченківський район; after Taras Schevchenko)
• Solomianskyi Raion (Солом’янський район)
• Sviatoshynskyi (Святошинський район)

Most of the raions are named after respective historical neighborhoods of the city.

[edit] Historical neighborhoods

Kievans (residents of Kiev) widely recognize a system of the smaller non-formal historical neighborhoods. Such neighborhoods count in dozens, however, constituting a kind of hierarchy, since most of them have lost their distinctive topographic limits. The natural first level of subdivision of the city is into the Right Bank and the Left Bank of the Dnieper (a few large islands belong to the left-bank raions).

The names of the oldest neighborhoods go back to the Middle Ages, and sometimes pose a great linguistic interest. The newest whole-built developments bear numeric designations or residential marketing names.

Most notable informal historical neighborhoods of Kiev include:

Lypky and Zvirynets' (Pecherskyi Raion) are the most expensive areas to live. Koncha-Zaspa is arguably the most interesting neighborhood name dating back to the times of Kievan Rus'. It reflects the story of the Rus warriors who felt asleep (zaspaly) during their watch in an outpost and were killed (koncheni) by Golden Horde invaders. Koncha-Zaspa is now a prestigious area too.

[edit] Practical orientation patterns

Another useful pattern of city division is the Kiev Metro system. However, metro lines do not cover significant parts of Kiev, making such orientation very approximate (but easy for newcomers). Sometimes, the system of elektrychka train stops are used for the same purpose.

The full informal set of addresses in Kiev (used, for example, in real estate advertising) would include:

• Formal raion
• Historical neighborhood
• Nearest metro station or train stop
• Formal address

[edit] See also

• History of Kiev
• Subdivisions of Ukraine

[edit] External links

• History of Administrative Subdivision of Kiev, Kiev City Department of Statistics.

	Subdivisions of Kiev, Ukraine
	Raions: Darnytskyi | Desnianskyi | Dniprovskyi | Holosiivskyi | Obolonskyi | Pecherskyi | Podilskyi | Shevchenkivskyi | Solomianskyi | Sviatoshynskyi
	Right Bank Neighbourhoods: Akademmistechko | Baikove | Borschahivka | Chokolivka | Demiivka | Feofania | Holosiiv | Koncha-Zaspa | Korchuvate | Kurenivka | Lukianivka | Lypky | Lysa Hora | Minskyi masyv | Nyvky | Obolon | Pankivschyna | Pechersk | Petrivka | Pyrohiv | Podil | Priorka | Puscha-Vodytsia | Shuliavka | Solomianka | Sovky | Sviatoshyn | Syrets | Tatarka | Telychka | Teremky | Vidradnyi | Vita | Vydubychi | Vynohradar | Yevbaz | Zabaikove | Zamkova Hora | Zhulyany | Zvirynets
	Left Bank Neighbourhoods: Bereznyaky | Bortnychi | Bykivnya | Chervonyi Hutir | Darnytsia | Kharkivskyi masyv | Lisova | Livoberezhna | Osokorky | Pozniaky | Rusanivka | Troyeschyna | Voskresenka
	Islands: Hidropark | Trukhaniv Island | Rybalskyi Island | Vodnykiv Island