Simbirsk Province: History, Population, Industry and Agriculture

Simbirsk province was an administrative-territorial formation of the Russian Empire with a center in the city of Simbirsk. It was created from the eponymous governorship in 1796. This administrative unit existed until 1924, until it was renamed Ulyanovsk Province. After 4 years in the USSR began to conduct economic regionalization, as a result of which Simbirsk province was abolished. In early 1943, most of its former territory became part of the newly formed Ulyanovsk region.

History of land

It is known that this area was inhabited since ancient times. The first documentary information about this was found in Arabic manuscripts dating back to the 10th century. It was at this time that the Baghdad Caliphate tried to establish diplomatic relations with the Bulgars living on these lands. According to ancient records, in the south of the province there lived Burtases, and on the coasts of the Volga, including where Simbirsk was located, the Mordva.

Three centuries later, the Tatars appeared here. In the XIV century, the power of the Nizhny Novgorod princes became much stronger and now spread to all the Mordovian lands up to the headwaters of the Sura, along which the border with the Horde possessions passed. However, in those days here, except for a few sentry points, several secluded farms and the town of Kurmysh there was nothing. Obviously, Russian colonization did not spread beyond the Alatiri River.

Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a settlement was built here. The city of Alatyr was the first, and a little later around it began to form numerous villages in Sengileevsky and Syzran uyezds. Next to them, special watchdog fortifications were built, which served to protect the population from the attack of the freeman, who was always present on the Volga.

Start

Simbirsk province began to emerge in 1648, when the construction of Simbirsk was in full swing. At the same time, a defensive line was erected to the south-west from it, consisting of a rampart, a moat and a wooden ditch, beyond which towers and spears were seen. These fortifications were also transferred to the Penza province. The remains of such structures looked quite impressive even at the end of the XIX century.

After 35 years, the city of Syzran was built. In the XVI century, in Alatyr and Kurmysh, voivodeship offices were already established, which belonged to the Nizhny Novgorod region. After the conquest of Kazan, the lands belonging to it between Sura and Volga became part of Simbirsk Uyezd. However, under the first administrative division of the Russian Empire, which occurred in 1708, these territories were withdrawn to the Kazan province. The Simbirsk governorship was established in 1780. In 1796 it was transformed into Simbirsk province, and in 1924 its main city was renamed Ulyanovsk.

Population

The counties of Simbirsk province in 1850-1920. There were 8 administrative units, in which, according to the census of 1897, the population was:

● Alatyrsky - 158 188 people;
● Ardatovsky - 189 226 people;
● Buinsky - 182 056 people;
● Korsun - 217 087 people;
● Kurmyshsky - 161 647 people;
● Sengileevsky - 151 726 people;
● Simbirsk - 225 873 people;
● Syzran - 242 045 people.

The primary population was employed in agriculture. However, many engaged in a variety of handicrafts. In the largest cities of the Simbirsk gubernia, people worked at numerous plants and factories that produced various products.

Agriculture

We can say with confidence that the main occupation of local residents was cultivation of land. Most of the peasant land was under arable land. And this is not surprising, since the villages of Simbirsk province were rich in good lands. In the winter field, rye was sown everywhere, but in spring wheat, buckwheat, oats, millet and wheat. In addition, good harvests of sunflower, lentils, peas, potatoes, flax, etc. were collected in these regions. Tobacco and hops were bred mainly only in Alatyr, Aldatovsky, Syzran and Kurmysh uyezds. Quite a significant potato crop was due to the fact that in the province there were up to 60 potato-treacle and starch plants.

Simbirsk province was also famous for its gardens. Gardening in these places was developed for the most part on the banks of the Volga, however small fruit plantings could be found in other regions. Predominantly engaged in the cultivation of apple, pear, bergamot and plum. In these places, gardening and gardening were of a non-commercial nature.

Industry and trade

The most important branch of handicraft production was various kinds of woodworking trades. The craftsmen made wagons and carts, sleighs and wheels, bent arcs and skids, dishes and troughs, shovels and decks, weaved bast shoes and weaved mats. Particularly famous for this were the Aldatov, Korsun, Alatyr and Syzran districts of Simbirsk province. In total, about 7 thousand people were engaged in these fisheries.

In addition, other crafts were highly developed here. These included sewing mittens and boots, caps and caps, fetching shoes and weaving handkerchiefs, weaving gear for fishing and rope making, and other activities. To further popularize handicrafts, the Zemstvo organized special departments at agricultural exhibitions and fairs, and some schools even had their own craft workshops. Among other things, Simbirsk province was famous for its prosperity in fishing and logging.

As for industrial production, by 1898 there were 18 cloth factories, 14 distilleries, more than 3 thousand flour mills, 5 vodka and 3 breweries, 7 sawmills, 1 cheese factory and many other enterprises. Only this year 82 fairs were organized on the territory of the province, the largest of which took place in Simbirsk, Syzran and Korsun.