Stavropol

The name Stavropol (Russian: Ста́врополь) is a Russian rendering of the Greek name, Stauropolis (Greek: Σταυρούπολις 'City of the Cross'). According to legend, soldiers found a stone cross there while building the fortress in the city's future location.^[14] It is unrelated to Byzantine Stauroupolis (ancient Aphrodisias) in Asia Minor, nor to the city of Stavropol-on-Volga (now called Tolyatti).

It was founded on October 22, 1777^[3] following the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 as a military encampment,^[14] and was granted city status in 1785.^[4] Prince Grigory Potemkin, who founded Stavropol as one of ten fortresses built between Azov and Mozdok at the request of Catherine the Great, played a leading role in the creation of the city. Don Cossacks, particularly those from the Khopersky Regiment, settled the area in and around the cities of Stavropol and Georgiyevsk with a mission to defend borders of the Empire.^[15]

Alexander I in 1809 invited several Armenian families to settle by the fortress, in order to encourage trade in the region.

Stavropol's strategic location aided the Russian Empire's conquest of the Caucasus. By the early 19th century the city grew into a busy trade center of the North Caucasus. In 1843, an Episcopal see of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in Stavropol and in 1847 the city became the seat of Stavropol Governorate.^[16]

During the Russian Civil War the city changed hands several times and finally was captured by the Red Army from the Volunteer Army of general Anton Denikin on February 29, 1920. The city was renamed Voroshilovsk on May 5, 1935, after Kliment Voroshilov, but the original name was restored by decree on January 12, 1943.^[17] The Great Patriotic War took a heavy toll on the city and between August 3, 1942 and January 21, 1943 Stavropol was occupied by the Germans and its airport was used as a base for the Luftwaffe (German air force) to bomb Soviet oil supplies in Grozny. The city was liberated by the Soviet Army in January 1943. Since 1946, natural gas has been extracted near the city; later on, a pipeline to supply Moscow was built.

Stavropol is the administrative center of the krai.^[2] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with one rural locality (the khutorofGrushevy), incorporated as the city of krai significance of Stavropol—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[1] As a municipal division, the city of krai significance of Stavropol is incorporated as Stavropol Urban Okrug.^[8]

Stavropol's economy focuses on the production of automobiles, furniture, and construction equipment and materials. The city relies on air transport through Shpakovskoye airport as well as rail and highway connections to other Russian cities.

Stavropol's 2021 population is now estimated at 453,387. In 1950, the population of Stavropol was 108,353. Stavropol has grown by 3,293 since 2015, which represents a 0.73% annual change.

Stavropol has a theater and an association football team called FC Dynamo Stavropol.

The main educational institutions of the town include North-Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol State Agrarian University, and Stavropol State Medical University.

The area of Russia in which Stavropol resides is very mountainous, placing the city in the midst of the northern Caucasus mountain range. The city has one of the biggest city parks in Russia, 'Victory Park' covering up to 200 hectares.^{[citation needed]}

The city, like many other Russian cities has its own botanical garden, which covers up to 18 hectares, including 16 hectares of natural woods.^[14][18]

Stavropol experiences a humid continental climate (Dfa), using the 0°C (32°F) isotherm, with short but cold winters (though mild for Russia) and hot summers. Precipitation is rather low, with a 562 millimeters (22.1 in) annual average.

Stavropol is not protected by the mountains in the winter months, so it can frequently get very cold. The lowest temperature recorded in Stavropol was −28.3 °C (−18.9 °F) on 8 February 2012, while the highest was +39.7 °C (103.5 °F) on 8 August 2006.

Well-known Russians who have visited or resided in Stavropol include: Generals Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800), Alexey Yermolov (1777–1861), and Nikolay Raevsky (1771—1829); the poets Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837)^[21] and Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841),^[22] who were in political disfavor, the surgeon Nikolay Pirogov (1810—1881), Alexander Griboyedov (1795–1829),^[23] Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910),^[24] and the national poet of Ossetia, Kosta Khetagurov.^[25]

The first and only executive president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022), was born in Stavropol Krai and spent several years working in the city of Stavropol as the head of the krai's administration. Gorbachev's chief mentor, long-time friend, and predecessor Yuri Andropov (1914–1984) was also born in Stavropol Krai.

Actor Lev Gorn (born 1971) star of The Americans, and Serge de Sazo (1915–2012) Russian born French photographer, were born in Stavropol.

An abbess of the Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite, Serafima Meletieva was born in 1886 at Stavropol.

Piotr Mikhailovich Skarżyński (1744-1805), A Russian Major General. He served in the cavalry units of the Russian army and he commanded the Buzhan Cossacks during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1791, he showed heroism during the assault on Ochakov and the defense of the Kinburn fortress. He was awarded the Order of St. George. He owned an estate in Stavropol where he made wine.^[26]

Stavropol is twinned with:^[27]

• Ставропольская городская Дума. Решение №81 от 25 апреля 2008 г. «Об Уставе города Ставрополя», в ред. Решения №662 от 17 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Устав муниципального образования города Ставрополя Ставропольского края». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования, за исключением положений, для которых установлены иные сроки введения в действие. Опубликован: "Вечерний Ставрополь", №84, 29 апреля 2008 г. (Stavropol City Duma. Decision #81 of April 25, 2008 On the Charter of the City of Stavropol, as amended by the Decision #662 of June 17, 2015 An Amending the Charter of the Municipal Formation of the City of Stavropol in Stavropol Krai. Effective as of the day of the official publication, with the exception of the clauses for which other dates of taking effect are specified.).
• Государственная Дума Ставропольского края. Закон №9-кз от 1 марта 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Ставропольского края», в ред. Закона №90-кз от 14 ноября 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в статьи 5 и 7 Закона Ставропольского края "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Ставропольского края"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ставропольская правда", №46, 5 марта 2005 г. (State Duma of Stavropol Krai. Law #9-kz of March 1, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Stavropol Krai, as amended by the Law #90-kz of November 14, 2013 On Amending Articles 5 and 7 of the Law of Stavropol Krai "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Stavropol Krai". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Правительство Ставропольского края. Постановление №63-п от 4 мая 2006 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц Ставропольского края», в ред. Постановления №75-п от 5 марта 2015 г. «О внесении изменения в пункт 47 Раздела II Реестра административно-территориальных единиц Ставропольского края, утверждённый Постановлением Правительства Ставропольского края от 04 мая 2006 г. №63-п». Вступил в силу с 4 мая 2006 г.. Опубликован: "Сборник законов и других правовых актов Ставропольского края", №17, ст. 5609, 10 июля 2006 г. (Government of Stavropol Krai. Resolution #63-p of May 4, 2006 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Stavropol Krai, as amended by the Resolution #75-p of March 5, 2015 On Amending Item 47 of Section II of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Stavropol Krai Adopted by Resolution #63-p of the Government of Stavropol Krai of May 4, 2006. Effective as of May 4, 2006.).
• Государственная Дума Ставропольского края. Закон №88-кз от 4 октября 2004 г. «О наделении муниципальных образований Ставропольского края статусом городского, сельского поселения, городского округа, муниципального района», в ред. Закона №51-кз от 28 мая 2015 г. «О преобразовании муниципальных образований, входящих в состав Минераловодского муниципального района Ставропольского края (Минераловодского территориального муниципального образования Ставропольского края), и об организации местного самоуправления на территории Минераловодского района Ставропольского края». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ставропольская правда", №216, 6 октября 2004 г. (State Duma of Stavropol Krai. Law #88-kz of October 4, 2004 On Granting the Status of Urban, Rural Settlement, Urban Okrug, Municipal District to the Municipal Formations of Stavropol Krai, as amended by the Law #51-kz of May 28, 2015 On the Transformation of the Municipal Formations Within Mineralovodsky Municipal District of Stavropol Krai (Mineralovodskoye Territorial Municipal Formation of Stavropol Krai), and on the Organization of the Local Self-Government on the Territory of Mineralovodsky District of Stavropol Krai. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Президиум Верховного Совета СССР. Указ от 12 января 1943 г. «О переименовании города Ворошиловска, Орджоникидзевского края, в город Ставрополь и Орджоникидзевского края — в Ставропольский край». (Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Decree of January 12, 1943 On Changing the Name of the City of Voroshilovsk in Ordzhonikidze Krai to the City of Stavropol, and of Ordzhonikidze Krai to Stavropol Krai. ).

• Official website of Stavropol
• "Stavropol (town)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 816–817.
• Pictures of Stavropol (in Russian)