Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, West Siberian economic region, Russia

🇷🇺 Novokuznetsk (Новокузнецк) is a city in Kemerovo Oblast in south-western Siberia, Russia. It is the second largest city in the oblast, after Kemerovo.

It was previously known as Kuznetsk until 1931, and as Stalinsk until 1961.

History Founded in 1618 by men from Tomsk as a Cossack ostrog (fort) on the Tom River, it was initially called Kuznetsky ostrog (Кузне́цкий острог). It became the seat of Kuznetsky Uyezd in 1622. Kuznetsk (Кузне́цк) was granted town status in 1689. It was here that Fyodor Dostoevsky married his first wife, Maria Isayeva (1857). Joseph Stalin's rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union transformed the sleepy town into a major coal mining and industrial centre in the 1930s. It merged with Sad Gorod in 1931. In 1931–1932, the city was known as Novokuznetsk and between 1932 and 1961 as Stalinsk (Ста́линск), after Stalin.

Geography: Administrative status Within the framework of administrative divisions, Novokuznetsk serves as the administrative centre of Novokuznetsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as Novokuznetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Novokuznetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Novokuznetsky Urban Okrug.

City districts • Kuybyshevsky • Kuznetsky • Novoilyinsky • Ordzhonikidzevsky • Tsentralny • Zavodsky

Education • Siberian State Industrial University • Novokuznetsk branch of Kemerovo State University • State Institute for Physicians Postgraduate Training (also known as Novokuznetsk Postgraduate Physician Institute), Russian Ministry of Health • Novokuznetsk Scientific Center of Medicosocial Expert Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Invalids, Federal Agency for Public Health and Social welfare • Institute of General Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Economy: Industry Novokuznetsk is a heavily industrial city and is located in the heart of the Kuzbass region. Factories in the city include: • West-Siberian Metal Plant • Novokuznetsk Iron and Steel Plant • Factory "Kuznetsk ferroalloys" • Novokuznetsk aluminium factory.

Sport Metallurg Novokuznetsk is an ice hockey team based in Novokuznetsk. Formerly a member of the Kontinental Hockey League, the team is currently a member of the Supreme Hockey League. The football team of the same name was recently promoted to the Russian first division below the premier.

RC Novokuznetsk compete in the Professional Rugby League, the highest division of rugby union in Russia.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov were all born in Novokuznetsk and began their pro careers with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Novokuznetsk is also the birthplace of US chess Grandmaster Gata Kamsky.

Transport The main airport is the Spichenkovo Airport. The city is also a major railway junction with both local and long-distance trains. Local public transport is provided by trams, buses, and trolleybuses.