Lebedyan (Russian: Лебедя́нь) is a town and the administrative center of Lebedyansky District in Lipetsk Oblast, Russia. It is located on the upper Don River, 62 kilometers (39 mi) northwest of Lipetsk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 20,049 (2021 census); 21,012 (2010 census); 22,966 (2002 census); 22,850 (1989 Soviet census).

History

It was founded in 1613 largely to guard the holdings of I. N. Romanov, Tsar Michael I's uncle, and served as a border outpost protecting South Russia from the Crimean Tatars' incursions.[citation needed] The Trinity Monastery was established in 1621 and several churches were built by the end of the century; they are all now reduced to ruins.

Chartered in 1779,[citation needed] Lebedyan developed in the 19th century as a center of horse racing and horse breeding. Locals claim that the first racetrack in Russia was opened here in 1826. The Agricultural Society of Lebedyan, founded in 1847, was influential in preparing the emancipation reform of 1861.

In 1984 construction of an underground metro began as hobby tunneling. However, this was abandoned in 2010 without having opened.

Administrative and municipal status

Within Russia's framework of administrative divisions, Lebedyan serves as the administrative center of Lebedyansky District. As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Lebedyansky District as Lebedyan Town Under District Jurisdiction. As a municipal division, Lebedyan Town Under District Jurisdiction is incorporated within Lebedyansky Municipal District as Lebedyan Urban Settlement.

Economy

The town is the location of the largest fruit juice manufacturer in Eastern Europe, Lebedyansky.

Architecture

The New Cathedral

Lebedyan has two cathedrals, both dedicated to the icon of the Theotokos of Kazan. The old and neglected cathedral goes back to the 18th century, while the larger cathedral on the market square was designed in the Empire style and consecrated in 1839.

Notable people

Lebedyan is the birthplace of the author Yevgeny Zamyatin. Other former residents of the town include the authors Mikhail Bulgakov and Andrey Bely. Ivan Turgenev incorporated a story titled Lebedyan in his collection A Sportsman's Sketches. It was also the home of Leonid Mulyarchik, who attempted to singlehandedly build a subway system in the town. (He eventually gave up on the project.)

Notes

Sources

  • Липецкий областной Совет депутатов. Закон №382-ОЗ от 28 апреля 2010 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Липецкой области и порядке его изменения», в ред. Закона №343-ОЗ от 5 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Липецкой области в связи с объединением сельских поселений Добринский сельсовет и Сафоновский сельсовет Добринского муниципального района Липецкой области». Вступил в силу по истечении 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Липецкая газета", №88, 7 мая 2010 г. (Lipetsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #382-OZ of April 28, 2010 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Lipetsk Oblast and on the Procedures for Its Change, as amended by the Law #343-OZ of December 5, 2014 On Amending Various Laws of Lipetsk Oblast Due to the Merger of the Rural Settlements of Dobrinsky Selsoviet and Safonovsky Selsoviet in Dobrinsky Municipal District of Lipetsk Oblast. Effective as of the day which is 10 days after the day of the official publication.).
  • Липецкий областной Совет депутатов. Закон №126-ОЗ от 23 сентября 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Липецкой области», в ред. Закона №343-ОЗ от 5 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Липецкой области в связи с объединением сельских поселений Добринский сельсовет и Сафоновский сельсовет Добринского муниципального района Липецкой области». Вступил в силу 26 сентября 2004 г. Опубликован: "Липецкая газета", №188, 25 сентября 2004 г. (Lipetsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #126-OZ of September 23, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations in Lipetsk Oblast, as amended by the Law #343-OZ of December 5, 2014 On Amending Various Laws of Lipetsk Oblast Due to the Merger of the Rural Settlements of Dobrinsky Selsoviet and Safonovsky Selsoviet in Dobrinsky Municipal District of Lipetsk Oblast. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).