Armavir

Armavir is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kuban River. Population: 188,832 (2010); 144,000 (1969). Armavir was formerly the second-largest industrial center of Krasnodar Krai, after Krasnodar.

History

The area of today's Armavir was first inhabited by Abazins. Later Turkic Tatars from the Crimean Khanate also settled here. As a result of the Caucasian War the remaining Abazins were forced to emigrate from Southern Russia to the Ottoman Empire. Armavir is also claimed to be a part of the historical land of the Circassians.

The contemporary settlement was founded in 1839 by Cherkesogai Armenians as Armyansky aul (Армя́нский ау́л). In 1848 it was named Armavir, after the ancient capital of Armenia.

During the Russian Civil War of 1918–1920, a number of brutal battles took place near the city. The Taman army's military campaign ended in Armavir in 1918. The Soviet authority was established in Armavir in March 1920. During World War II, the city was occupied by the German Army. It was liberated by the Red Army in January 1943.