Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast

This article is about a city in the Kirovohrad Oblast. For other uses, see Oleksandriia (disambiguation).
Oleksandriia
Олександрія
City of regional significance

Flag
Seal
Coordinates: 48°40′N 33°07′E / 48.667°N 33.117°ECoordinates: 48°40′N 33°07′E / 48.667°N 33.117°E
Country Ukraine
Oblast Kirovohrad
Area
 • Total 55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation 107 m (351 ft)
Population
 • Total 93,357
Pokrovsky Cathedral in Olexandriia
Old building in Oleksandriia
Fire depot tower
Oleksandriia theatre
Nika Stadium

Oleksandriia (Ukrainian: Олександрія, Russian: Александрия) is a city located in the Kirovohrad Oblast (province) in central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Oleksandriiskyi Raion (district), the city itself is also designated as a separate municipality within the oblast.

In 2001 it had a population of 93,357, and including the villages (selo) and townlets in the city municipality a population of 103,856.

History

The city is first mentioned in 1754, as the settlement Usivka (Ukrainian: Усівка, Russian: Усовка). During establishment of the Russian colony of New Serbia in 1754-64, next to the settlement was established encampment (fort) Bechey (after the Serbian city of Bečej) that quartered the 3rd Pandurs company (see Trenck's Pandurs). Since 1784, it has carried the name Oleksandriysk and later Oleksandriya. In 1806-1922, Oleksandriya was a county (uyezd) seat. The Germans occupied the city during War War II from 1941 - 1944. A witness recounted of the Germans' occupation: "When they arrived, the German soldiers burned the synagogue near the river and set fire to the Jewish houses. They were terrible. The Jews tried to take the furniture from their houses so it wouldn’t burn."[1]

Places of interest

A popular place to visit in the town is Oleksandriia's square, known as Lenin Square ("Площадь Ленина"). In the middle of the square there is a statue of Vladimir Lenin, and not far from it an old cinema.

People from Oleksandriia

References

  1. ↑ "Yahad Interactive Map". Execution Sites of Jewish Victims Investigated by Yahad-In Unum. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Crossing the English Channel