The territory of the modern Kstovsky District was settled thousands of years ago: in the late 20th century, archaeologists discovered 18 campsites dating from the 7th to 2nd millennia BC near the selo of Bezvodnoe, as well as Bronze Age sites near Rzhavka, Malaya Elnya, Bolshaya Elnya, and Veliky Vrag. The first Slavic settlement on the district's territory appeared in the 14th century and was called the village of Kstoskaya. According to one theory, the name derives from the Mordva words "ksty" (wild strawberry) and "vo" (pine forest) — the area had forests and clearings rich in wild strawberries. According to another theory, the name is connected to the word "kstitsya" (to cross oneself): barge haulers, upon reaching the selo of Bezvodnoe from where Nizhny Novgorod was already visible, would cross themselves saying, "Well, praise the Lord, we've made it to Nizhny." In the early 15th century, the village of Kstoskaya together with its lands was granted to the Pechersky Monastery.
In 1785, a postal station opened in Kstovo, and in 1818 a stone church was built — from that time the settlement received the status of a selo. A serf from Kadnitsy, Mikhail Sutyrin, improved the horse-powered cargo vessel known as the konovodka in the early 19th century, making it easier to operate and cheaper. His invention soon spread throughout the country, yet he himself remained a serf. A commemorative stele in honor of the self-taught mechanic has been erected in Kadnitsy. On 1 February 1930, the Pechersky District was renamed the Kstovsky District, and Kstovo became the center of a large agricultural suburban district. That same year, the Kstovskaya and Roykinskaya machine-and-tractor stations were established to serve the collective farms.[2]
Kstovsky District is one of the large, highly developed industrial territories of Nizhny Novgorod Region. The administrative center is the city of Kstovo.
It was formed on 10 June 1929. The district is located 18 kilometers to the southeast of Nizhny Novgorod and borders the Nizhny Novgorod urban district, Borsky, Lyskovsky District, Dalnekonstantinovsky District and Bogorodsky District, and along the Volga River — the Bor urban district.[1] Its area is 122,500 hectares, or 1.6% of the total area of Nizhny Novgorod Region.
Population — 111,800 people, representing 3.3% of the region's total population.
The territory of the Kstovsky Municipal District comprises the urban settlement of the city of Kstovo and 14 rural settlements encompassing 119 rural localities.
Culture
A visit to the Kstovo Local History and Regional Studies Museum conveys how important it is to know and respect the history of one's hometown.
The pride of Kstovo is the World Sambo Academy. More than 10,000 athletes from various sports (from wrestling to rhythmic gymnastics) come here every year. Competitions of national and international standing are held here.
The House of Student Youth and the Palace of Children's and Youth Creativity, and a music school.
In the selo of Veliky Vrag in Kstovsky District stands the Church of the Kazan Mother of God — a unique historical monument that has survived to the present day from 1792.
Contacts
See also
Sources
- cbs-kstovo.ru — Kstovsky District is located 18 kilometres southeast of Nizhny Novgorod and borders the Nizhny Novgorod urban district, Lyskovsky District, and Dalnekonstantinovsky District (archive)
- In the City of N — The first Slavic settlement on the territory of the district appeared in the 14th century and was called the village of Kstoskaya. According to one version, the name derives from Mordva words (archive)