Kemerovo: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Kemerovo is a city on the river Tom, capital of the Kemerovo Oblast, in Siberia, Russia. Population: 520,600. The city is situated 3482 km east from Moscow, where the the Iskitim river flows into the Tom river. The climate is continental. The average temperature in January is -18°C, in July 20°C. Average annual percipitations are 420 mm. Kemerovo's railway station is connected to the Transsiberian railroad through Yurga station. The Kemerovo airport provides regular connections to Moscow and other cities.

Kemerovo started on the place of old Russian settlements, not far from Verkhotomsky ostrog, which was established in 1657. Verkhotomsky ostrog was a midpoint on a road from Tomsk to Kuznestkaya krepost (Kuznetsk fortress). In 1701, Scheglov settlement was founded on the left bank of the Tom; soon it became a village. In 1859, seven villages existed on the area of the modern Kemerovo: Scheglovka (or Ust-Iskitimskoye), Kemerovo (known since 1734), Evseevo, Krasny Yar, Kur-Iskitim (Pleshki), Davydovo (Ishanovo), and Borovaya. In 1721, coal was discovered. In 1907, first coal mines were established. Before 1917, the population of Scheglovo was 4 thousand people. Its further development was conditioned by building a railroad between Yurga and Kolchugino (now Lenisk-Kuznetsk) with a connection between Topki and Scheglovo. In 1918, Scheglovo was given the status of the city. Kemerovo, a village then, became its part. In 1932, Scheglovsk was renamed Kemerovo and became the center of the Kemerovo Oblast (Kemerovo Region) in 1943.

There are 5 higher education institutions: Kemerovo State University, Kuzbass State Technical University, Kemerovo Medical Academy, Kemerovo Art Academy, Kemerovo Agricultural Institute.

During the Soviet times, Kemerovo became an industrial center with the focus on chemical and machine building industries. Early 90s brought decline to those industries.

Geography and Location

Aerial map