Vsevolozhsk

Vsevolozhsk is a town and the administrative center of Vsevolozhsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Karelian Isthmus 24 km east of St. Petersburg. Population: 59,704 (2010).

The town's name comes from manufacturer Vsevolozhsky. In 1941–1944, the vital road connecting besieged Leningrad with the rest of Soviet Union, the Road of Life, passed through the town. Currently, a considerable part of population of Vsevolozhsk commutes to St. Petersburg for work, which is facilitated by the broad-scale construction of apartment buildings in the town.

History

A number of villages historically existed within the current area of the town of Vsevolozhsk. In particular, the village of Ryabovo was first mentioned in 1727. In the end of the 18th century and in the 19th century, Ryabovo belonged to the family of princes of Vsevolozhsky, after whom the town was eventually named. In 1892, a narrow-gauge railway (Irinovskaya railway), the first such line in Russia, was constructed to transport peat for St. Petersburg's heating. A number of railway stations were open, including Berngardovka, Vsevolozhskaya, and Melnichny Ruchey. Settlements eventually developed around the stations. The whole area was a part of Shlisselburgsky Uyezd of St. Petersburg Governorate. The settlement of Vsevolozhskoye, around Vsevolozhskaya railway station, was the first settlement in Russia where street gas lamps were set. On February 14, 1923, Shlisselburgsky Uyezd was merged into Petrogradsky Uyezd. In January 1924, the uyezd and the governorate were renamed Leningradsky.

On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Leninsky District, with the administrative center in the settlement of Vsevolozhskoye, was established. The governorates were also abolished and the district became a part of Leningrad Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On August 15, 1930, the okrugs were abolished as well and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. In May 1930, Vsevolozhskaya, Berngardovka, Ilyinsky, Maryino, and Ryabovo were all granted suburban settlement status. On August 19, 1930, Leninsky District was abolished and merged into newly established Leningradsky Prigorodny District with the administrative center in the city of Leningrad. On August 19, 1936, Leningradsky Prigorodny District was abolished and Vsevolozhsky District, with the administrative center in Vsevolozhskoye, was established. On November 27, 1938, the suburban settlements of Vsevolozhskaya, Berngardovka, Ilyinsky, Maryino, and Ryabovo were merged into the urban-type settlement of Vsevolozhsky, which became the administrative center of the district. On February 1, 1963, the urban-type settlement of Vsevolozhsky was renamed Vsevolozhsk and granted the status of town of oblast significance. In 2010, the administrative structure of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with its municipal structure, and Vsevolozhsk became the town of district significance.

Culture and recreation

The town contains eleven cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally thirty-five objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. These include the Priyutino Estate and the Ryabovo Estate, as well as monuments related to the Road of Life, which was connecting Leningrad with the rest of Soviet Union during the Siege of Leningrad in 1941—1944.

Vsevolozhsk State Museum of History displays collections of local interest. The Priyutino Estate, which belonged to Alexey Olenin, the President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in the 19th century, is a museum as well.

There was an intention to make a resort in the town in the Soviet times. For that a ski jump was built (now dysfunctional), but later this idea was abandoned.