Administrative divisions of Adygea/update

[edit] Urban localities

The different types of "urban localities" (городские поселения) are urban areas whose populations exceed the thresholds given below:

[edit] City/town

A "city/town" (город; see notes about terminology) is a type of urban locality. Two types of cities/towns exist:^[10]

• The status of a city/town under the Republic's jurisdiction (город республиканского значения) can be granted to a city/town that:

has a population exceeding fifteen thousand;

has developed industries;

may be regarded as an economic and cultural center.

Whether or not a candidate city/town qualifies as an economic and cultural center with developed industries is discussed and decided individually in each case. Inhabited localities with populations of less than fifteen thousand can be granted the status of a "town under the Republic's jurisdiction" when they can demonstrate playing an important industrial, social, cultural, or historical role and have the potential for further growth.

• The status of a town under a district's jurisdiction (город районного значения) can be granted to a town that:

has a population of at least twelve thousand;

has no less than 85% of its population consisting of blue and white-collar families;

may be regarded as an industrial and cultural center.

As of 2007, no towns within the Republic enjoy this status.

[edit] Urban-type settlement

An "urban-type settlement" (посёлок городского типа) is another type of urban locality. Three forms of urban-type settlements are recognized:^[10]

• Work settlement (рабочий посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality that:

has a population of at least three thousand;

has no less than 85% of its population consisting of blue and white-collar families;

has industrial enterprises, railroad junctions, water-control structures, facilities for processing agricultural products, educational or research establishments, or other objects of economic importance located within its territory.

In cases where the potential for further economic and social development and population growth can be demonstrated, inhabited localities with populations of less than three thousand may be granted work settlement status.

• Suburban (dacha) settlement (дачный посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality whose main purpose is to provide sanatory or summer recreation facilities to visiting populations. A suburban settlement is not defined by population level and retains its status even if most of its population become permanent residents. As of 2007, no urban-type settlements within the Republic enjoy this status.
• Resort settlement (курортный посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality that:

has a population of at least two thousand;

has no less than half its population consisting of visitors arriving for medical treatment or recreation;

is located in an area whose primary purpose is sanatory.

As of 2007, no urban-type settlements within the Republic enjoy this status.

[edit] Rural localities

Source: ^[11]

"Rural localities" (сельские поселения) are localities whose populations are mostly employed in agriculture. The different types described below each have their own histories, but all at present are regarded as equal in status.

[edit] Auls

Historically, auls (аул, pl. аулы) were a Circassian type of rural locality. Many of the present-day auls were founded during 1850 to 1925, when the Adyghe people were subject to mass deportations as a consequence of the Caucasian War of 1817–1864. These auls tend to be located in mountainous or otherwise difficult-to-access terrains, while most of those established after the Caucasian War are found on the plains beside the Caucasus Mountains.

As of 2007, there are forty-one auls in Adygea,^[2] mostly located in the western, northern and north-eastern parts of the Republic. The majority lie along the left banks of the Kuban and Laba Rivers, and along the southern shores of Krasnodar Reservoir. Each typically has a population between two and five thousand, averaging 1,620. Together they account for 18.2% of Adygea's rural localities^[2] and 31% of the rural population.

[edit] Khutors

Khutors (хутор, pl. хутора) are a smaller type of rural locality. Typically, those that appeared before 1900 were established by landowners, while those created during the first half of the twentieth century encompassed public land.

As of 2007, there are 102 khutors in Adygea,^[2] mostly found in three areas: to the north of Maykop; in the north-east, along the Laba River; and in the predominantly aul zone in the western part of the Republic. Each usually has a population of between one and five hundred, although some exceed one thousand. Together they account for 45.3% of Adygea's rural localities,^[2] but only for 15% of the rural population. In 1926, the populations in 4% of khutors exceeded five hundred; by 2000, this had risen to 18%.

[edit] Selos

Historically, selos (село, pl. сёла) were a type of Russian rural locality, consisting of a large village with a church. Most selos in Adygea were established in the second half of the nineteenth century on lands abandonded by the Circassians.

As of 2007, there are nineteen selos in Adygea,^[2] most commonly found between the eastern shore of Krasnodar Reservoir and the left bank of the Laba River (near its source). Each typically has a population between two and four thousand, averaging 1,600. Together they account for 8.4% of Adygea's rural localities^[2] and 15% of its rural population.

[edit] Settlements

Settlements (посёлок, pl. посёлки) were a type of rural locality that first appeared during the Soviet times. Most were established by migrant peasants from outside of Adygea, although some also resulted from migration within the Republic. Today, they are most common in the Belaya River valley near the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains.

As of 2007, there are fifty-one settlements in Adygea, accounting for 22.7% of the Republic's rural localities^[2] and for about 15% of its rural population. The population of a typical settlement lies between one and two thousand, averaging 750. Although in existence for less than a century, the settlements' combined population is now almost equal to that of the khutors.

[edit] Stanitsas

Originally, stanitsas (станица, pl. станицы) were fortified Russian Cossack outposts during the Caucasian War. After 1861, the stanitsas also started to appear in sparsely populated areas.

During Soviet times, stanitsas, no longer being Cossack settlements, still encompassed relatively large populations. In 1926, for example, the populations of five of the sixteen stanitsas then existing exceeded five thousand. As of 2007, there are twelve stanitsas in Adygea, accounting for 5.3% of the Republic's rural localities,^[2] but their combined population accounts for almost a quarter of the Republic's rural population. They are fairly evenly spread across the Republic's territory.

[edit] Numbers of rural localities by year