History of Balashov

Beautiful river the Hoper flows slowly along large Russian plain. Many tribes crossed the river: Polovtsians, Tartars, Mongols. This territory was called "wild field", "wild ground" when this territory (along the Hoper and the Medveditsa) were not inhabited. In the middle of the XIV century there was a watch service there, but the territory was developed actively only in the second half of the XVII century. In 1780 by the order of empress Ekaterina II the former village Balashov was transformed into a chief town of the district. Balashov district became the part of the Saratov region.

In a year after the Saratov region was formed, coat-of-arms of towns were designed including coat-of-arms of Balashov: at the top of the shield Saratov coat-of-arms was depicted - three starlets on blue background and at the bottom - two watermelons on golden filed which means that watermelons grow in that city.

According the results of the First Russian census of population in 1897 there were 6 schools, a hospital, an orphanage, 2 almshouses, 7 churches, different factories: brick, butter, mechanical, foundry iron. In the beginning of the XX century there were 6 mechanical windmills provided by foreign equipment.

The biggest enterprises were Ryazan-Ural and South-Eastern railways stations with their services and depot. The city was directly connected with Kamishino, Tambov (1894), Penza, Kharkov (1895). In 1894 a railway bridge was constructed over the river Hoper near Balashov.

In 1911 population of the city (in comparison with 1890) was increased twice from 11030 to 21802. In Balashov there were 2 streets, 2500 buildings, 2 squares and a public garden (total area is 4080 square meters). There was a water-pipe, streets were lightened by oil lamps.

Collection of postcards with views of ancient city Balashov of the XX century was printed in central Moscow publishing houses with help of local merchants: M.A. Bogatyrev, M.K. Vasiliev. From different views on the postcards you can imagine the whole city Balashov as from small parts the designer makes a mosaic. Signboards of the buildings were of different sizes and styles.

The main square Troitskaya was busy with trade. Four times a year there were fairs: Evdokyskaya, Troitskaya, Rogedestvenskaya, Ilyanskaya. The biggest trade organizations were silk, textile, wool, paper, fur, sugar, tea goods of bothers A. Dozorovy, trade of M.K. Vasiliev, sausage trade of the Pavlovs, confectioner and bread goods of D. Dudakov and I. Vakker, wine goods of V.R. Vavaev, shps of V.F. Semenov, M.A. Bogatyrev. In Balashov offices of companies "Ford", "zinger" were opened.

Unfortunately, Michael-Archangel, Ilynskaya, Uspenskaya churches and the Pokrov women's temple, Saint-Trinity cathedral hadn't saved till nowadays. But Balashov should be proud that they hade been on that ground. The city is spiritually very rich. Balashov is considered to be a provincial Russian city. Poets such as G.R. Derghavin, M.U. Lermontov, P.A. Vyazemsky, Y.P. Polonsky, I.A. Krylov, painters K.A. Korovin, composer, pianist, S.V. Rakhmaninov had been there. In 1954 Balashov became a center of the region. Balashov region formed by the order of the Presidium of the council of the Soviets of the USSR existed for 4 years. There were years of construction, industrial, cultural development of the city.