About Abakan, Republic of Khakassia
Abakan city celebrated its anniversary on the 30th of April, 2006. This doesn’t mean that city civilization appeared on the territory of Khakassia only in the XX century. Famous scientists (for example, professor L.R. Kyzlasov) studied ancient and medieval settlements in the South Siberia. Professor L.R. Kyzlov wrote his book “Written information about ancient cities in Siberia” which was dedicated to his study of ancient cities on the base of excavations. P.I. Karolkin, V.M. Torosov studies the history of Abakan city.
Ust-Abakan (now Abakan city) became an administrative centre in the XIX century. According to the reform of M.F. Speransky “Manual about non-Russians” was issued. In 1823 the village of Ust-Abakan became the centre of Kachinskaya Duma. In 1859 Ust-Abakan consisted of 21 homesteads. The only “cultural source” was Orthodox Church. In 1863 the primary school of the Ministry of Education of Russia was opened in Ust-Abakan. There were 12 pupils (boys) who studied there. In the school there were different rooms: a library, a classroom, a hostel for children and a teacher’s flat.
In 1906 the village of Ust-Abakan became the centre of Ust-Abakan province. A new part of the city began its development with the construction of the railway Achinsk-Minusinsk. Since 1914 (with the construction of the railway) the history of Abakan had begun. But the First World War stopped the construction of the railway lines.
In the 20s the construction of the railway began. The opening ceremony of the railway station Abakan took place on the 23th of November, 1925. The railway line Achinsk-Abakan (459 km length) began working.
In 1926 there were 2 streets in a new part of Abakan near the railway station: Vokzalnaya street and the First street (Pushkin street).
In 1928 a new two-storey house was built and then a club in Abakan.
By 1929 there had been 9 streets in Abakan. Khakass Pedagogical College and Abakan Museum were opened in 1929.
The question of the reconstruction of the village of Abakan into Abakan city appeared. Before the reconstruction 10665 lived there. The decision of formation of Khakass Autonomous region was made on the 20th of October, 1930. And the village Ust-Abakan was renamed into Abakan city, centre of Khakass Autonomous region on the 30th of April, 1931.
In 1931 there were 3 schools, 2 doctors, a telephone station (for 3 numbers), 3 newspapers in Abakan city.
On the 9th of June, 1931 the line of the city was established. It stretched from the railway bridge of the Abakan river to the Yenisei and from the railway bridge to the island Bulun.
In 1932 there were several industrial enterprises: artels of invalids, “Shveynik”, a tannery, a confectioner factory and collective farms “Sila” (“Power”) and “Krasny Abakan” (“Red Abakan”).
In 1933 the Krivoye lake was drained on the initiative of members of the Komsomol and on that place the park was built (now it children’s park “Orlyonok”). In 1933 building of the Palace of Culture began and it was finished in 1936.
A meat processing factory, a furniture factory, a locomotive depot, an electric power station were built in Abakan city in the period of 1932-1933.
In 1934 Abakan medical College opened its doors to first students.
In 1939 there were 12 schools, 8 kindergartens, a Pedagogical College, a Veterinary College, an Obstetric College in Abakan city.
A puppet theatre worked in Abakan in 1939-1944.
During the Second World War Abakan city continued its development. Several military hospitals and evacuated enterprises worked in Abakan city. The population increased. In 1946 a confectioner factory and wine factory “Legmash” began working, in 1950 – a textile factory. 400 blocks of flats were built in 1950-1951, in 1951 a cinema ‘Victory” was built in Abakan.
During the period of construction of railway Abakan-Tayshet many building organizations were created in Abakan. In the 60s a baker (1963), a textile (1967), a boot and shoe (1969) factories were built in Abakan city. Abakan river port was opened in 1967.
In the period of 1971-1985 a group of enterprises of sectional house-building, a group of enterprises of construction materials, a mechanical factory were opened in Abakan.
Abakan city was awarded to the order “The Badge of Honour” according to the decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in April, 1981.
In 1982-1985 Abakan took a leading place by the rate of development in Russia. A factory of carriage building, a container factory were opened Abakan. Residentional microdistricts were formed.
Today Abakan city is the capital of Khakassia. More than 164 thousand of people live in Abakan. That is the third part of the whole population of Khakassia. About 60 percent of enterprises of small business of the republic are concentrated in Abakan. There are a Pedagogical, a Polytechnic, a Agricultural Colleges, several professional technical schools, Khakass State University which includes several institutes, Khakass Institute of Business, Khakass Technical Institute, a branch of Moscow Modern Humanitarian Institute, a Project Institute, several publishing companies, 3 broadcasting companies, 4 radio companies, several newspapers (“Chance”, “Khakassia”, “Abakan”), a museum, 2 big markets, 3 Orthodox temples, several banks. In Abakan there are 24 schools, 30 kindergartens, several libraries, 2 schools of arts, 3 stadiums, a Palace of Sport. In Abakan there are 170 streets, several parks and squares.
Today Abakan is developing.