History of Belebei

Belebei:There are many versions about how the mane of the city appeared. On one of the plains of Belebei hills covered by virgin forests Bashkirian tribes settled down. But their life was disturbed by foreigners.

Foreigners came to this place. Chuvash people were called "foreigners". Thir arrival was connected with conquering of Kazan khanate. Chuvash people were pagans and they didn't want to be baptized into Christians and they moved to the east. During the reign of Elezaveta Petrovna (1741-1761) they left the Kazan region. Part of them found refuge there.

It is suggested that runaway Chuvash baffled local people, mainly the richest one who addressed each other with respect: "Bey". "Bey" - they said, foreigners disturbed our life, they had to move to other places. Local people began to develop new territories, virgin lands, which were not touched before. Wealth of forests let them realize forest business and farming. Bast production developed. Wooden utensils were produced not only for usage but also for trade. Markets were supplied with wooden goods. Young population grew. A copper-smelting factory which was built in the middle of the XVII century gave fame to the city.

In 1754 Ivan Petrovich Osokin built a copper-smelting factory on the bank of the river Usen, 18 km from Belebei. The factory supplied Ekaterina's tsar monetary fund with copper. I.P. Osokin was a descendant of big manufacturers, he had similar enterprises in Perm, Orenburg regions. Many manufacturer followed his example and many enterprises appeared around Belebei. A famous ring of enterprises surrounded the city of Belebei. It was an economic "knot" which helped to develop economy of the region and also promoted growth of the city. Belebei had a very favorable situation - on the railway line to Ufa, Orenburg, Kazan.

In 1757 it was reorganized from a village settlement into a city, in 1781 Belebei became a center of economic region of mining industry. By the order of Elezaveta the Greta Belebei became a chief town of Ufa district.

Alcohol and vodka production developed on the base of Znamensky alcohol factory which belonged to merchant V.M. Deev. It was one of the first enterprises in the world in which a new way of making alcohol was applied. That was a method of Russian scientist of German background Lovits. The method was based on the purification with the help of activated charcoal. Belebei became a merchant city with developed trade, the nearest big cities were Ufa, Abdulino, Orenburg. Peasants and merchants came to Belebei from different towns and villages to buy or sell goods.

As many cities in Bashkiria Belebei became an important place. First buildings were church and transit prison (building of modern police). If you look at it from height you will see that it has the shape of letter "E" in honor of Ekaterina the Great. In 1782 a court was built and then a city council.

The city grew slowly. In 1836 it had population of 520 people, in 1871 - 1290. In 1880 about 4450 people lived in Belebei. In Belebei there were 458 living houses, 106 shops, several churches, 2 soap works. More over, there was a vodka factory and some wine warehouses.

In 1888 Samara- Zlatoust railway was joined to railway branch Aksakovo-Belebei which was constructed near Belebei.

The beginning of the XX century was rather calm in Belebei. Revolution of 1905 brought strikes of railway workers in Aksakovo, peasant movements in Davydovka, Vasilievka, Martynovo. Military forces took part in suppression of the strike.

In 1914 the First World War began. During this period march companies were formed in Belebei. 152-th reserve infantry regiment was located in Belebei. It included 6 thousand of soldiers.

The ideas of Bolsheviks became very popular which caused many problems. Newspaper "News of Belebei Soviet of workers, soldier and peasant deputes" played a big role in the development of bolshevism. The first issue was published on 24th of September, 1917. Editor-in-chief of the newspaper was M.V. Kotomkin.

October coup d'etat happened in 1917. Resolution to pass power to the Council of workers, soldier and peasant deputes was adopted.

During the civil war the city came into the hands of the White Guard and to the Red Guard. In March, 1919 Admiral Kolchak attacked the Read Army. Czech writer Yaroslav Gashek was there. In historical museum of Belebei newspapers "Our road" edited by Yaroslav Gashek saved till today.

In April, 1919 the city was occupied by the forces of Kolchak.

In 1921 there was hunger in Belebei and terrible drought burnt crops. Population of the region reduced for 20 % for two years. In the 20-30s national economy was restored.

On 20th of August, 1930 Belebei region was built.

In 1936 the first electric station in Bashkiria was built.

In 1939 many collective farms took part in Soviet agricultural exposition in Moscow.

The city grew and changed its image. In the 40s of the XX century first enterprises appeared: meat factory, small machinery building factory. In the middle of the 50s Belebei became an important base for Shkapovsk group of oil deposits. Oil deposits were exploited in Belebei, Alsheevsk, Myakinsk regions.

In the beginning of the 70s oil production decreased and machinery building began to develop: belebj factory "Autonormal", experimental-mechanical factory (equipment and details), "Belselmash" (equipment for farms).

Nowadays Belebei is a big centre of oil region. There are "BelZAN", "Belselmash", "Experimental-technical", gas-transfering factories, food industry: milk, meat, bread, vodka, alcohol. Production of construction materials is developed. In Belebei region grain, vegetables, potatoes are cultivated. Cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry are bread. Oil deposits are being discovered.