Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk
The history and development of Khabarovsk is in great part owed to GeneralGovernor Murav'ev-Amursky of East Siberia. He became known as the "father" of
Khabarovsk after he ordered the establishment of a new military outpost on the
Amur River. On May 19, 1858, the commander of the 13th Siberian battalion,
Captain Yakov Dayachenko and his soldiers built the first few winter quarters of
the future Khabarovsk.
The Governor called the new outpost Khabarovka in honor of one of the
remarkable "pioneers" of the Amur land, Erofei Khabarov. For quite a long time
the outpost remained a small service port on the Amur River and transportation
post of the long Siberian Way.
Similar to many other cities in Siberia and the Far East, Khabarovka slowly
grew during Murav'ev-Amursky's Governorship (1847-1861). More than 9,500
peasants came to the new "east" lured by the new opportunities of Stolipin's
reforms promising peasants land and freedom on the new territories of Siberia and
along the Amur River. In 1865 Khabarovka had one church, 59 state-owned and
140 private houses, and 14 shops. The population included 943 military and 351
civil residents.
Big changes came to Khabarovka in April 28, 1880. At this time the Governor
and his team realizes that the port Nikolaevsk-na-Amure, long considered a "gate
into the southern part of the Russian Far East" was a failure. The Governor
changed the status of Khabarovka from a settlement to a city and moved his
residency from Nikolaevsk to Khabarovka and in 1893 changed the name of the
city from Khabarovka to Khabarovsk.
Since that time Khabarovsk has had the status of an administrative city. It is
one of the largest cities in the Russian Far East (RFE) with a population of close to
700,000. Compared to many other cities of the RFE, Khabarovsk is quite a "lucky"
city in terms of its geographical location, political, economical and military status.
It avoided destruction in the war with Japan in 1905, the Revolution and Foreign
Intervention in Vladivostok, and also WWII. During the Soviet period Khabarovsk
was never a closed city to visitors or tourists. This allowed the city to save the
architecture, and build Khabarovsk with undisturbed planning, creating a friendly
culture with many museums and theatres, a strong educational base with many
universities and colleges, and a large center for industry and transportation.
It is also important to point out that much of the history and culture of the area
is strongly tied to its many indigenous peoples. The history of these peoples is well
preserved both in local museums and in the settlements of the region and around
Khabarovsk. Outside of the city, and near the Nanaian settlement of SikhachiAlyan, you can see cliff drawings of more than 13 centuries ago.
The history and development of Khabarovsk is in great part owed to GeneralGovernor Murav'ev-Amursky of East Siberia. He became known as the "father" of
Khabarovsk after he ordered the establishment of a new military outpost on the
Amur River. On May 19, 1858, the commander of the 13th Siberian battalion,
Captain Yakov Dayachenko and his soldiers built the first few winter quarters of
the future Khabarovsk.
The Governor called the new outpost Khabarovka in honor of one of the
remarkable "pioneers" of the Amur land, Erofei Khabarov. For quite a long time
the outpost remained a small service port on the Amur River and transportation
post of the long Siberian Way.
Similar to many other cities in Siberia and the Far East, Khabarovka slowly
grew during Murav'ev-Amursky's Governorship (1847-1861). More than 9,500
peasants came to the new "east" lured by the new opportunities of Stolipin's
reforms promising peasants land and freedom on the new territories of Siberia and
along the Amur River. In 1865 Khabarovka had one church, 59 state-owned and
140 private houses, and 14 shops. The population included 943 military and 351
civil residents.
Big changes came to Khabarovka in April 28, 1880. At this time the Governor
and his team realizes that the port Nikolaevsk-na-Amure, long considered a "gate
into the southern part of the Russian Far East" was a failure. The Governor
changed the status of Khabarovka from a settlement to a city and moved his
residency from Nikolaevsk to Khabarovka and in 1893 changed the name of the
city from Khabarovka to Khabarovsk.
Since that time Khabarovsk has had the status of an administrative city. It is
one of the largest cities in the Russian Far East (RFE) with a population of close to
700,000. Compared to many other cities of the RFE, Khabarovsk is quite a "lucky"
city in terms of its geographical location, political, economical and military status.
It avoided destruction in the war with Japan in 1905, the Revolution and Foreign
Intervention in Vladivostok, and also WWII. During the Soviet period Khabarovsk
was never a closed city to visitors or tourists. This allowed the city to save the
architecture, and build Khabarovsk with undisturbed planning, creating a friendly
culture with many museums and theatres, a strong educational base with many
universities and colleges, and a large center for industry and transportation.
It is also important to point out that much of the history and culture of the area
is strongly tied to its many indigenous peoples. The history of these peoples is well
preserved both in local museums and in the settlements of the region and around
Khabarovsk. Outside of the city, and near the Nanaian settlement of SikhachiAlyan, you can see cliff drawings of more than 13 centuries ago.
www.sras.org
www.sras.org