Cheboksary (/ˌtʃɛbɒkˈsæri/; Russian: Чебокса́ры; Chuvash: Шупашкар, tr. Šupaškar) is the capital city of Chuvashia, Russia and a port on the Volga River.

Cheboksary Чебоксары
City[1]
Other transcription(s)
• Chuvash	Шупашкар
Left to right, top to bottom: A View of Red Square from Cheboksary Bay on Chuvash Republic Day; Hospital Square, Universitetskaya Street; Cheboksary Airport, Chapayev Monument on Chapayev Square; Chuvash State Agricultural Academy
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Anthem of Cheboksary[2][3]
Location of Cheboksary
Cheboksary Location of Cheboksary Show map of Chuvash Republic Cheboksary Cheboksary (European Russia) Show map of European Russia Cheboksary Cheboksary (Europe) Show map of Europe
Coordinates: 56°09′N 47°14′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Chuvashia[1]
First mentioned	1469[4]
City status since	1781[4]
Government
• Body	City Assembly of Deputies[5]
• Head[5]	Oleg Nikolayev[6]
Area [7]
• Total	250.9 km2 (96.9 sq mi)
Elevation	150 m (490 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[8]
• Total	453,721
• Estimate  (2018)[9]	492,331 (+8.5%)
• Rank	39th in 2010
• Density	1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi)
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	city of republic significance of Cheboksary[1]
• Capital of	Chuvash Republic[1]
• Capital of	city of republic significance of Cheboksary[1]
Municipal status
• Urban okrug	Cheboksary Urban Okrug[10]
• Capital of	Cheboksary Urban Okrug[10]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [11])
Postal code(s)[12]	428000–428006, 428008–428015, 428017–428025, 428027–428029,428031, 428032, 428034–428038, 428899, 428999, 996200
Dialing code(s)	+7 8352
OKTMO ID	97701000001
City Day	Third Sunday of August
Website	gov.cap.ru/main.asp?govid=81

Geography

The city is located in the Volga Upland region and stands on the shore of the Cheboksary Reservoir. Its area is 250.9 square kilometers (96.9 sq mi).[7] The satellite city of Novocheboksarsk is located about 6 kilometers (3+1⁄2 mi) east of Cheboksary.

History

Cheboksary was first mentioned in written sources in 1469,[4] when Russian soldiers passed here on their way to the Khanate of Kazan.^{[citation needed]} According to archaeological excavations, however, the area had been populated considerably earlier. The site hosted a Bulgarian city of Veda Suvar, which appeared after Mongols defeated major Volga Bulgarian cities in the 13th century. During Khanate period the town is believed by some^[who?] to have had a Turkic (probably, Tatar^{[citation needed]}) name Çabaqsar and that the current Russian and English names originate from it. However, in maps by European travelers it was marked as Cibocar (Pizzigano, 1367), Veda-Suar (Fra Mauro, 1459). Shupashkar, the Chuvash name literally means the "fortress of the Chuvash".

In 1555, the Russians built a fortress and established a settlement here. In 1625, there were 458 soldiers quartered in Cheboksary, and in 1646 there were 661 males living in the settlement. At the end of the 17th century, Cheboksary was regarded as a major commercial city of the Volga region, and in 1781 it was granted town status[4] within Kazan Governorate. In the beginning of the 19th century the population was about 5500, the town had a sawmill and several small manufactures.

Cheboksary also was noted for its twenty-five churches and four monasteries, and Cheboksary bells were known in London and Paris^{[citation needed]}.

In the 16th and the first half of the 17th century the Vvedensky cathedral, four monasteries and eight churches had been built, in the 18th century the stone buildings of treasury and archive, magistracy, court, and ten churches. In 1880, here were counted 783 houses (33 of them from stone), 91 stores, 3 schools, 2 hospitals, and a bank.

In the beginning of the 20th century, 5,100 people lived in Cheboksary. In 1965, the population was 163,000.

Administrative and municipal status

Cheboksary is the capital of the republic.[1] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with two urban-type settlements (Novye Lapsary and Sosnovka) and two rural localities, incorporated as the city of republic significance of Cheboksary—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1] As a municipal division, the city of republic significance of Cheboksary is incorporated as Cheboksary Urban Okrug.[10]

City divisions

For administrative purposes, Cheboksary is divided into three city districts: Kalininsky, Leninsky, and Moskovsky.

Demographics

Population: 453,721 (2010 Census);[8] 440,621 (2002 Census);[13] 419,592 (1989 Census).[14]

The city of Cheboksary together with the satellite city Novocheboksarsk forms a polycentric agglomeration with a population of more than 680 thousand people.

Ethnic composition

The population of Cheboksary consists mainly of the two following ethnic groups; the Chuvash (62%), and ethnic Russians (34%).[15] Mixed marriages are quite common.

Culture

Cheboksary possesses many cultural opportunities. These include the Public Order (Badge of Honor) Russian Drama Theater, a philharmonic orchestra, the Chuvash State Puppet Theater and numerous theaters (showing productions in both Russian and Chuvash languages). However, a very popular gathering place for the locals is the recently^[when?] completed zaliv (bay), situated in the middle of the city. Cheboksary also has boardwalks and beaches along the Volga River, where people swim in the summer. There are also a number of heated pools, health clubs, and museums (including the Chuvash National Museum and Russia's only beer museum).[16]

Cheboksary hosted a language festival in 1996.

Sport

Cheboksary regularly hosts athletics meetings and racewalking events, including the 2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup, the 2015 European Team Championships Super League, and the 2016 Russian athletics and masters athletics championships.[17] The 2016 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships were moved from Cheboksary to Rome as part of IAAF sanctions against doping in Russia.

Education

Educational institutions include the Chuvash State University, Chuvash State Agriculture Academy, the Chuvash State Pedagogical University, and the Cheboksary Cooperative Technical School.

• Cheboksary Physics and Mathematics School
• Cheboksary Cooperative Institute

Economy

Cheboksary is located near the Cheboksary Dam generating up to 1,404 MW, with a reservoir of 2,274 square kilometers (878 sq mi). Cheboksary is the location of the headquarters of the Concern Tractor Plants, Russia's leading machine building company and one of the largest heavy mechanical engineering companies in the world.[16][18]

Transportation

Local public transportation

An extensive system of trolleybuses, autobuses, and minibuses covers the city, providing quick, convenient access to all parts of the city. For those who prefer taxis, there are several taxi agencies available, but the favorite means of transportation among locals are so-called "Gypsy" cabs. In Russia, anybody who owns a car is potentially a taxi. This can be a convenient way to get around but it is also potentially dangerous. Official taxis cost less than 6 dollars for travel between most points within the city.[16]

River

Because the Volga River runs through Chuvashia, Cheboksary is a frequent stop on the many boat tours that travel along the major cities up and down the Volga. To the south, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Astrakhan, the Caspian Sea, and Black Sea are directly reachable. To the west, the Volga River connects Cheboksary with Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Moscow, and the northern regions of Russia. By using river-sea vessels, it is possible to take cargo from Chuvash riverports all the way to Saint Petersburg, Novorossiysk (on the Black Sea), Astrakhan, and ports situated on the Danube river. However, the river is frozen from December to April.[16]

Air

The Cheboksary Airport (IATA CSY, ICAO UWKS, international airport since 1995) receives both cargo and passenger aircraft of practically all types and sizes. There are regularly scheduled flights to Moscow and other destinations. Chuvashia Airlines was based at this airport until operations ceased in 2009. Cheboksary is located about a four-hour drive from Strigino International Airport near Nizhny Novgorod, which offers more flight connections.

Climate

The climate in the region is continental (Köppen: Dfb), and it is similar to the climate in Moscow, although colder in winter, which lasts from late November until late March with a permanent snow cover.

Gallery

Cheboksary Bay 2003

• 
  The new Government House of the Chuvash Republic
• 
  The Chuvash State Opera and Ballet Theater
• 
  Chuvash State Art Museum
• 
  Chuvash National Library
• 
  Chuvashia Hotel
• 
  Chuvash Drama Theater
• 
  Assumption Church
• 
  Mother Patroness Monument in center of the city
• 
  Monument of Vasily Chapaev
• 
  Cheboksary railway station before reconstruction
• 
  Chuvash State Puppet Theater
• 
  Vvedensky Cathedral
• 
  Old house, architectural monument
• 
  the old house of the merchant Kadomtsev
• 
  The oldest pharmacy Cheboksary
• 
  Peasant's House

Notable people

• Yuri Yevlampyev (born 1966), former Russian professional footballer

Twin towns – sister cities

Cheboksary is twinned with:[20][21]

References

Notes

Sources

• Государственный Совет Чувашской Республики. Закон №28 от 19 декабря 1997 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Чувашской Республики», в ред. Закона №37 от 30 июля 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные законодательные акты Чувашской Республики и признании утратившим силу Закона Чувашской Республики "О едином балансе активов и пассивов Чувашской Республики"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ведомости Государственного Совета ЧР", №23, 1998. (State Council of the Chuvash Republic. Law #28 of December 19, 1997 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Chuvash Republic, as amended by the Law #37 of July 30, 2013 On Amending Several Legislative Acts of the Chuvash Republic and on Abrogating the Law of the Chuvash Republic "On Consolidated Balance of Assets and Liabilities of the Chuvash Republic". Effective as of the official publication date.).
• Государственный Совет Чувашской Республики. Закон №37 от 24 ноября 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Чувашской Республики и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения, муниципального района и городского округа», в ред. Закона №54 от 9 октября 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Чувашской Республики "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Чувашской Республики и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения, муниципального района и городского округа"». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Республика", №49-50, 30 ноября 2004 г. (State Council of the Chuvash Republic. Law #37 of November 24, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of the Chuvash Republic and on Granting Them Status of Urban, Rural Settlement, Municipal District, and Urban Okrug, as amended by the Law #54 of October 9, 2015 On Amending the Law of the Chuvash Republic "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of the Chuvash Republic and on Granting Them Status of Urban, Rural Settlement, Municipal District, and Urban Okrug". Effective as of the day which is 10 days after the official publication date.).
• Чебоксарское городское Собрание депутатов. Решение №40 от 30 ноября 2005 г. «Устав муниципального образования города Чебоксары — столицы Чувашской Республики», в ред. Решения №1743 от 20 ноября 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в Устав муниципального образования города Чебоксары — столицы Чувашской Республики». Вступил в силу 1 января 2006 г. (за исключением отдельных положений). Опубликован: "Чебоксарские новости", №255–260, 31 декабря 2005 г. (Cheboksary City Assembly of Deputies. Decision #40 of November 30, 2005 Charter of the Municipal Formation of the City of Cheboksary—the Capital of the Chuvash Republic, as amended by the Decision #1743 of November 20, 2014 On Amending the Charter of the Municipal Formation of the City of Cheboksary—the Capital of the Chuvash Republic. Effective as of January 1, 2006 (with the exception of certain clauses).).
• Чебоксарское городское Собрание депутатов. Решение №1525 от 24 декабря 2009 г. «О гимне муниципального образования города Чебоксары — столицы Чувашской Республики». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Чебоксарские новости", №148–149, 29 декабря 2009 г. (Cheboksary City Assembly of Deputies. Decision #1525 of December 24, 2009 On the Anthem of the Municipal Formation of the City of Cheboksary—the Capital of the Chuvash Republic. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Администрация города Чебоксары Чувашской Республики. Постановление №2083 от 1 июля 2013 г. «О социальном паспорте города Чебоксары за 2012 год». Опубликован: "Вестник органов местного самоуправления города Чебоксары", №12, 10 июля 2013 г. (Administration of the City of Cheboksary of the Chuvash Republic. Resolution #2083 of July 1, 2013 On the 2012 Social Passport of the City of Cheboksary. ).

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Cheboksary.

• Official website of Cheboksary (in Russian)
• Cheboksary Business Directory (in Russian)
• Photos from Cheboksary

На других языках

[de] Tscheboksary

[ru] Чебоксары