Nikolsk, Vologda Oblast

Nikolsk (Russian: Нико́льск) is a town and the administrative center of Nikolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,^[1] located on the right bank of the Yug River close to the point where it flows into the White Sea. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolskoye Urban Settlement in Nikolsky Municipal District.^[2] Population: 8,515 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[3] 8,649 (2002 Census);^[4] 8,574 (1989 Census).^[7]

It is served by Nikolsk Airport.

History

The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoples. In 14th-15th century, during the colonization, it was a disputed territory between Grand Duchy of Moscow and Novgorod Republic.^[6] Novgorod controlled the major part of Russian North, and, in particular, all areas along the Sukhona north-east of Nikolsky District. Moscow controlled Veliky Ustyug, which it inherited from Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, and the Yug was the waterway it used to get to Veliky Ustyug. It is known that in 1452 Nikolsk and surrounding areas paid tribute to Novgorod.^[6] In the end of 15th century, Novgorod was appended to Grand Duchy of Moscow, and Nikolsk became one of the key points on the way from Moscow to the White Sea, which until 1703 was the main route for the foreign trade in Russia. In particular, the harbor in Nikolsk was used to transport cargo.

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty. Simultaneously, Nikolsk became the center of the uyezd and got the town rights. The viceroyalty was abolished in 1796, and Nikolsky Uyezd moved to Vologda Governorate. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate with the administrative center located in Veliky Ustyug. In 1924 the uyezds were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions). On June 10, 1924 Nikolsky District was established.^[8]

Economy

Industry

In Nikolsk, timber industry and food industry, including meat, milk, and bread production, are present. There is also linum textile production.^[9]

Transport

Paved roads connect Nikolsk with Pyshchug and Manturovo in the south, crossing the border with Kostroma Oblast, with Totma in the west, and with Veliky Ustyug via Kichmengsky Gorodok in the north. There is regular bus service on these roads, as well as local bus traffic.

The Yug is navigable downstream from Nikolsk, however, there is no passenger navigation.

There are no railroads around Nikolsk, and the closest railway stations with regular passenger service are Kotlas in Arkhangelsk Oblast and Sharya in Kostroma Oblast. There were plans to extend the Monza Railroad, a railroad built for timber transport, which runs along the border of Vologda and Kostroma Oblasts, to Nikolsk, however, these plans were never realized.^[10]

Culture and recreation

Nikolsk hosts sixty objects designated as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.^[11] These are remains of the pre-1917 Nikolsk.

Author Alexander Yashin, associated with the Village Prose movement in Russian Literature, was born in 1913 in what is now Nikolsky District, got his education in Nikolsk, and lived in Nikolsk until mid-1930s. The only state museum in Nikolsk is the Memorial Museum of Alexander Yashin.^[12] The museum occupies the house which belonged to Yashin's parents, as well as the former house of Yashin.

References