As early as the tenth century, in the Western European chronicles the name of Rus was found as “Gardarika” - “country of cities”. Indeed, the population of Veliky Novgorod, Ladoga and other ancient Russian cities at that time was ten times higher than the population of London or Paris. With the development of the eastern borders, ever new urban settlements were founded. In modern Russia there are 15 cities with a population of more than a million. We set off on a journey through the vast Russian expanses and visit the largest cities in Russia.
Cities of Russia with a population of more than 1 million people:
15
Volgograd
Population ≈ 1.013 million
The population of the city on the Volga today totals 1.013 million people, and once it was a small settlement on the great Volga trade route.
After the collapse of the Golden Horde, the Tsaritsyn fortress becomes a watchtower, and was first mentioned in a historical source in 1579. If we consider the largest cities of Russia by area, then Volgograd firmly takes the honorable 3rd place.
Today, the hero city of Volgograd is not only a large industrial center, but also one of the most beautiful in Russia, with many attractions.
14
Voronezh
Population ≈ 1.05 million
The cradle of the Russian Navy was founded in 1586, although a royal decree on the foundation of a fortress on the Voronezh River has not yet been found.
At the beginning of the XVIII century, the city became the center of the Azov province, which after the death of Peter I was renamed Voronezh. Throughout the entire period, Voronezh plays an important role in the economy and cultural life of Russia.
Today, 1 million 50 thousand inhabitants of different nationalities of the Russian Federation live in the city.
13
Permian
Population ≈ 1,053 million
The port city on Kama was founded in 1723, although the first mention of settlements in this place dates back to the beginning of the XVII century. In the Soviet period, namely from 1940 to 1957, the city was called Molotov.
Before the revolution of 1917, it was in Perm that the first university in the Urals was opened, and today 14 independent universities, 40 branches of Moscow and St. Petersburg institutes, academies and universities operate in the city. For tourists, the city has a rather convenient layout: a philharmonic society, a circus, art galleries, theaters and the main hotels of Perm are within walking distance from each other.
And so the famous city with a population of 1 million 53 thousand, became even more popular after the release of the series "Real Boys".
12
Krasnoyarsk
Population ≈ 1.095 million
In an article about the large cities of Russia, Krasnoyarsk rightfully takes the place of a large industrial, cultural and educational center of Central and Eastern Siberia.
Today the population of the city is 1.09 million, and once the territory between the Yenisei and Kachi rivers was occupied by nomadic tribes of the Yenisei Kirghiz.
The city, spread out on both banks of the Siberian river, has many large bridges, and one of the attractions of Krasnoyarsk is located on a ten-ruble note.
11
Ufa
Population ≈ 1.124 million
The administrative center of Bashkiria got its name in the Middle Ages by the name of the Ufa River, although historians and local historians still argue about the exact translation of this word.
1 million 124 thousand inhabitants live in Ufa, and this is the most important industrial and cultural center of republican significance. Interestingly, in terms of population, it is Ufa that opens the fourth dozen of the largest cities in Europe.
Among the many attractions, it is worth noting the unique museums with valuable artifacts and amazing exhibits of folk art.
10
Rostov-on-Don
Population ≈ 1.133 million
In the ancient period, the mouth of the Don was chosen by the Greeks and put their Tanais policy here, then it was part of the Tmutarakan principality, and with the advent of the Turks, the fortress of Azov was erected.
The foundation of the Russian fortress on the Don took place according to the letter of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1749. Today, Rostov on the great river is one of the largest Russian cities with a population of 1.133 million inhabitants.
There are many parks and wonderful places of recreation in Rostov, including the Don embankment.
9
Samara
Population ≈ 1.156 million
Back in 1367, Venetian cartographers marked on the maps a pier on the Samara River, but the first settlements on the site of modern Samara date back to the 1st millennium AD.
In the Soviet period, the city bore the name Kuybyshev, but in 1991 Samara returned its historical name. In 1989, it reached the largest number of inhabitants, and today it has a population of 1.156 million. It is located on the 9th place among the largest cities in Russia.
Of the famous monuments worth mentioning, a monument to Chapaev, Vysotsky, as well as the monumental complex “Glories”.
8
Omsk
Population ≈ 1.164 million
Where the Irtysh merges with Omu, it spread its quarters and residential districts of Omsk, whose population is 1 million 164 thousand people.
The administrative center of the Omsk region, in addition, the most important transport, industrial and financial center of South-West Siberia. The Trans-Siberian Railway passes through Omsk, and the most important navigable river in the region along the Irtysh.
One of the most theatrical cities in Russia, because in Omsk there are 14 small and large theaters.
7
Chelyabinsk
Population ≈ 1.195 million
With a population of almost 1.2 million people, Chelyabinsk is the seventh largest city in the list of Russian megacities. He spread his streets and neighborhoods on the natural border of the Urals and Siberia and acts as a powerful metallurgical center.
It was founded on the site of a small Bashkir village in 1736, as a watch fortress, and over time it grew and became one of the largest in the region.
The largest electrometallurgical plant in the Russian Federation operates in Chelyabinsk, which is one of the leading in the country in terms of industrial production.
6
Nizhny Novgorod
Population ≈ 1.252 million
One of the oldest in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod grew up on the banks of the Volga in 1221 at the behest of Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich.
One of the significant events in history was the formation of a people's militia from Novgorod, who put an end to the Time of Troubles, and saved the Russian state from foreign intervention.
In the Soviet period, like most other cities, Nizhny Novgorod was renamed Gorky. At the present stage of development, Nizhny is a large cultural and educational center with a population of 1 million 252 thousand people.
5
Kazan
Population ≈ 1.257 million
When the small river Kazanka flows into the Volga, Kazan is located - the center of Tatarstan, with the brand name of the “third capital of Russia”.
The origin of the name is associated with the Bulgars, who built the settlement on the spot where the boiler boiled. Under Ivan IV, the Kazan Khanate became part of the Moscow state.
Today, Kazan is the most important cultural center, as well as the cultural capital of Muslims of Russia. It is home to 1.26 million people.
4
Yekaterinburg
Population ≈ 1.483 million
The list is continued by the largest metropolis of the Urals, Yekaterinburg, which at one time bore the name of politician and official of the USSR Sverdlov.
Under Peter I, an iron smelter began work here. And Ekaterinburg was built as the capital of the mining region. It is definitely worth visiting this city and standing with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, because it is through it that the border of the parts of the world passes.
Various nationalities live in Yekaterinburg, and the population is almost one and a half million inhabitants.
3
Novosibirsk
Population ≈ 1.62 million
The handsome Novosibirsk grew up from the little Nikolsky Pogost, which is why it was called Novo-Nikolaevsk until 1925. Today, 1.62 million people live in its borders and outskirts.
A large industrial center of Russia is one of the leading in the economic development of the country. In addition, cultural and educational institutions, transport interchanges are concentrated here.
The center of the Siberian Federal District is located on the picturesque banks of the reservoir formed as a result of the construction of the Ob hydroelectric station.
2
St. Petersburg
Population ≈ 5.392 million
St. Petersburg has rightfully become a symbol of the Russian desire for access to the sea, and the glory of the Russian Navy. After all, it was from here that the glorious victories of Russia at sea began.
Within the northern capital live 5 million 392 thousand people. It is built on the islands of the Neva Delta and the beautiful Gulf of Finland. Peter and Paul Fortress and Peterhof became real business cards of St. Petersburg.
Every year, the most beautiful metropolis of Europe with numerous attractions and museums is visited by millions of tourists from all over the world.
1
Moscow
Population ≈ 12.69 million
The capital of the Russian Federation is not only the largest Russian city, but also the largest in Europe. As a result of the accession of new territories, the population of Moscow today is 12.7 million people.
The most important cultural center is visited daily by tens of thousands of tourists. Many monuments of architecture and history are included in the treasury of world culture.
Moscow is growing and developing, both quantitatively and qualitatively. At the current stage of development of the capital, the most important task of the city authorities is to solve the problems of updating the housing stock and creating modern transport lines.
The largest cities of Russia, however, like the small ones, have a glorious and heroic history, and it doesn’t matter if they were founded in the period of Ancient Russia, or during the development of eastern lands in New Time.
In conclusion, we note that the data on the population of Russian large cities are relevant in the spring of 2020. Observing the dynamics, we can conclude that the cities of Russia are growing, both in population and in area.
Article author: Valery Skiba