Vadskiy District is one of the oldest districts of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]

Location of the District

Vadskiy District borders the Arzamassky, Perevozsky, Shatkovsky, and D-Konstantinovsky Districts of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1][2] The total length of its borders is 167 kilometers.[1][2] The greatest extent from south to north is 41 kilometers, and from west to east — 30 kilometers.[1]

The distance from the district to the regional center is 110 kilometers.[1][2] Vadskiy District is divided into 10 administrative units, which include 46 populated localities. The administrative center of the district is the selo of Vad.

History of Foundation

In ancient times, Vadskiy District was inhabited by Mordva tribes. Many village and place names in the Mordva language have been preserved. The Mordva lived near Vad Lake for a long period.[3][2]

Historically more credible is the theory that the name of the selo Vad derives from the Mordva word "Vat'" meaning water. According to another legend, the name came from the name of the marshy terrain along the banks of the Vadok River (which remains after the spring floods) — a hellish, godforsaken place.[2][3][4]

The colonization of Mordva lands, full of dramatic events, began in the 12th century and continued for several hundred years. When the Tatar-Mongol hordes invaded Rus' in the 13th century, the Mordva, having been wronged by the Russian princes, sided with the Tatars.[3] With the development of capitalist relations, cottage industries and crafts began to flourish more successfully as supplementary occupations alongside the primary one — agriculture. Thus, the rope-spinning trade in Vad arose 200–250 years ago.[3] During the second half of the 19th century, the cultivation of hemp and flax expanded and this trade reached its peak; however, by the end of the 19th century it fell into decline. In the northern forested part of the district, the main source of income for peasants was the burning of charcoal. Nail-making and blacksmithing covered the Vadskaya, Ivashkinskaya, Yolkhovskaya, and Borisopolskaya volosts.[3][5] The entire male population was engaged in this trade. Nails were sold in Arzamas and Nizhny Novgorod.[3]

One of the oldest trades was felt-making. Its centers were Boltino, Polyany, and the selo of Pokrovskoye. Felt boots, insoles, and hats were made. Milling was practiced both for the needs of the peasant household and for sale. In addition, people were engaged in pressing hemp oil, rope-making, sheepskin dressing, wool carding, and weaving coarse and fine linen cloth from flax yarn. Vadskiy District was established on June 10, 1929.[3][4]

Landmarks

The Vadskiy District contains 17 sites with the status of historical and cultural monuments.[4] The most notable among them are the Kazan Church in the selo of Zelenyye Gory (1797), church complexes in the selo of Vorontsovo (17th–18th centuries), and in the selo of Krutoy Maydan (early 19th century).[4][6] The Vadskiy District is also home to the Annenkovskoye hillfort (1st millennium BC) — an archaeological monument of federal significance.[4][6]

The main attractions are Holy Springs, Vad Lake, and Dubrava,[2][4] which draw tourists from across the country.

Industry

The Vadskiy District is an agricultural district where farming focuses on crop and livestock production, with considerable attention given to processing.[7] Industrial enterprises are few; among them are OAO Selkhoztekhnika, MUP Poligrafist, and MUP Rassvet.

Notable Residents

See also

Sources

  1. web.archive.org (archive)
  2. vad.nobl.ru (archive)
  3. web.archive.org — Official website of Vadskiy District — "Historical overview": origin of the name, crafts, date of establishment… (archive)
  4. ngounb.ru — Vadskiy District — V.I. Lenin Nizhny Novgorod State Regional Universal Scientific Library (NGOUNB) (archive)
  5. opentextnn.ru — Chapter IV. Nizhny Novgorod nail-makers ("Krasnaya Ramen" and the "shippings" district) — OPEN TEXT (archive)
  6. gttp.ru — Vadskiy District on the map of "places of memory" of Nizhny Novgorod Region (archive)
  7. web.archive.org — Official website of Vadskiy District — "Business development potential": agriculture and enterprises of the district,… (archive)
  8. lib-avt.ru — Poyushchev Aleksey Ivanovich (archive)