Bolshoy Kamen began as a naval support base in 1947 and was granted urban-type settlement status in 1956, followed by town status on 31 August 1989.[citation needed] During the Soviet era, the town's nature as a naval base saw it designated as closed. This status was revoked in 1989, with plans for a civilian harbor in the town; however, these plans were later cancelled and the town was closed again in 1996. As of 1 January 2015 the closed status was once again revoked.[6]
Bolshoy Kamen is a monotown mostly specialized in engineering. Shipbuilding and repair works together with food industry and construction constitutes the basis of its economy. A large proportion of the town's population left during the 1990s, as the ship repair facilities operated almost at a standstill after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Most of the town's population is employed in the repair and construction of nuclear submarines. There are three banks and seven joint-venture companies, specializing in ships, shipping, and sea-fishing.
The town is connected with Vladivostok by road and by railway and is connected by a goods rail line to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Although the town is only around 40 kilometers (25 mi) in a straight line to Vladivostok, the road connection is about 130 kilometers (81 mi) around the coast.
Законодательное Собрание Приморского края. Закон №161-КЗ от 14 ноября 2001 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Приморского края», в ред. Закона №673-КЗ от 6 октября 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Приморского края "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Приморского края"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красное знамя Приморья", №69 (119), 29 ноября 2001 г. (Legislative Assembly of Primorsky Krai. Law #161-KZ of November 14, 2001 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Primorsky Krai, as amended by the Law #673-KZ of October 6, 2015 On Amending the Law of Primorsky Krai "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Primorsky Krai". Effective as of the official publication date.).
Законодательное Собрание Приморского края. Закон №538-КЗ от 26 декабря 2014 г. «О городском округе Большой Камень». Вступил в силу 1 января 2015 г. Опубликован: "Ведомости Законодательного Собрания Приморского края", №103, с. 98–102, 29 декабря 2014 г. (Legislative Assembly of Primorsky Krai. Law #538-KZ of December 26, 2014 On Bolshoy Kamen Urban Okrug. Effective as of January 1, 2015.).
Президент Российской Федерации. Указ №602 от 1 сентября 2014 г. «Об упразднении закрытого административно-территориального образования — города Большой Камень Приморского края». Вступил в силу со дня подписания. Опубликован: Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации http://www.pravo.gov.ru, 2 сентября 2014 г.. (President of the Russian Federation. Decree #602 of September 1, 2014 On Abolishing a Closed Administrative-Territorial Formation—the Town of Bolshoy Kamen in Primorsky Krai. Effective as of the day of signing.).
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