It was founded on the banks of the river of that name by order of the Catherine the Great on August 3 (14), 1777.[2] The town developed in following stages:
Initial construction (1777–c. 1800)
Early growth to population of 3,000 (c. 1810–c. 1860)
Intense social and urban development (c. 1870–1910)
Soviet development according to the typical plan for smaller towns (1926–c. 1950)
Reconstruction of the historical town structure (c. 1960–c. 1995)
Transition to free market agro-industrial town (c. 1995–2005)
Luga was founded as a town in Pskov Viceroyalty, but in March 3 (14), 1782 it was transferred to St. Petersburg Governorate[2] (renamed Petrogradsky in 1913 and Leningradsky in 1924) and became the seat of Luzhsky Uyezd. In 1918, important events of the Russian Civil War took place in the area, when the White Army unsuccessfully tried to conquer Petrograd.[2]
On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Luzhsky District, with the administrative center in Luga, was established.[9] The governorates were also abolished and the district became a part of Luga OkrugofLeningrad Oblast.[10] On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished as well and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On September 19, 1939, Luga became a town of oblast significance and was thus no longer a part of the district.[10]
In 2010, the administrative structure of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with its municipal structure[12] and Luga became a town of district significance.
The M20 Highway, connecting St. Petersburg with Pskov and eventually with Kyiv, passes Luga. In Luga, two more roads branch eastwards: one running to Veliky Novgorod and another one to Lyuban and Mga, largely following the border of Leningrad Oblast.
Luga contains twenty-five objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[15] These include the main sights remaining from the 18th and the 19th century such as the St. Catherine Cathedral (1786) and the Resurrection Cathedral (1872–1877).
The Luzhsky District Museum, the only state museum in the district, is located in Luga.[16]
^Лужский уезд (1917 - август 1927 г.) (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
^ abЛужский район (август 1927 г.) (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
^Clark, Alan (2005). Barbarossa: The Russian - German Conflict 1941-1945. London: Cassell. p. 114. ISBN978-0-304-35864-9.
^Промышленность (in Russian). Официальный сайт администрации Лужского муниципального района. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
^Kristensen, Hans M.; Korda, Matt (2021). "Russian nuclear weapons, 2021". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 77 (2): 90–108. doi:10.1080/00963402.2021.1885869. ISSN0096-3402. This could indicate the 9M729 has been added to a fifth brigade: the 26th Missile Brigade outside Luga about 125 km south of St. Petersburg.
Законодательное собрание Ленинградской области. Областной закон №32-оз от 15 июня 2010 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Ленинградской области и порядке его изменения», в ред. Областного закона №23-оз от 8 мая 2014 г. «Об объединении муниципальных образований『Приморское городское поселение』Выборгского района Ленинградской области и『Глебычевское сельское поселение』Выборгского района Ленинградской области и о внесении изменений в отдельные Областные законы». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Вести", №112, 23 июня 2010 г. (Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Oblast. Oblast Law #32-oz of June 15, 2010 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Leningrad Oblast and on the Procedures for Its Change, as amended by the Oblast Law #23-oz of May 8, 2014 On Merging the Municipal Formations of "Primorskoye Urban Settlement" in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast and "Glebychevskoye Rural Settlement" in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное собрание Ленинградской области. Областной закон №65-оз от 28 сентября 2004 г. «Об установлении границ и наделении соответствующим статусом муниципального образования Лужский муниципальный район и муниципальных образований в его составе», в ред. Областного закона №17-оз от 6 мая 2010 г «О внесении изменений в некоторые областные законы в связи с принятием федерального закона "О внесении изменений в отдельные законодательные акты Российской Федерации в связи с совершенствованием организации местного самоуправления"». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования (1 ноября 2004 г.). Опубликован: "Вестник Правительства Ленинградской области", №31, 22 октября 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Oblast. Oblast Law #65-oz of September 28, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of and Granting an Appropriate Status to the Municipal Formation of Luzhsky Municipal District and to the Municipal Formations Comprised By It, as amended by the Oblast Law #17-oz of May 6, 2010 On Amending Article 2 of the Oblast Law "On Establishing the Borders of and Granting an Appropriate Status to the Municipal Formation of Lodeynopolsky Municipal District and to the Municipal Formations Comprised By It". Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication (November 1 2004).).
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