Belgorod Oblast Белгородская область (Russian) |
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Political status | |||
Country | Russia | ||
Federal district | Central | ||
Economic region | Central Black Earth | ||
Established | January 6, 1954 | ||
Administrative center | Belgorod | ||
Government (as of February 2014) | |||
• Governor | Yevgeny Savchenko | ||
• Legislature | Oblast Duma | ||
Statistics | |||
Area (as of the 2002 Census) | |||
• Total | 27,100 km2 (10,500 sq mi) | ||
Area rank | 67th | ||
Population (2010 Census) | |||
• Total | 1,532,526 | ||
• Rank | 28th | ||
• Density | 56.55/km2 (146.5/sq mi) | ||
• Urban | 66.1% | ||
• Rural | 33.9% | ||
Population (January 2013 est.) | |||
• Total | 1,541,000 | ||
Time zone(s) | MSK (UTC+03:00) | ||
ISO 3166-2 | RU-BEL | ||
License plates | 31 | ||
Official languages | Russian | ||
Official website |
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Belgorod Oblast (Russian: Белгоро́дская о́бласть, Belgorodskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Belgorod. Population: 1,532,526 (2010 Census results).
At the turn of the 17th century, a solid line of military fortifications was built in the area, stretching for almost 800 kilometers (500 mi). Ukrainian Cossacks, who moved here because of the nobility and the tax burden, were in charge of the line defenses. Even more Cossacks moved to the area during the Khmelnytsky Uprising (1648–1657) and the internecine wars in the Cossack Hetmanate (1659–1679). Belgorod became the military and administrative center, after originating as an outpost on the southern borders of Russia.
Following the Battle of Poltava, Peter I granted to soldiers of Greater Belgorod the regiment flag.
From 1708 to 1727, the territory of the modern Belgorod Oblast was part of Kiev and Azov Governorates. In 1727, Belgorod Governorate was established from parts of Kiev Governorate. The governorate lasted until 1779. This territory was much greater than that of today, and the governorate incorporated territories of modern Kursk, Oryol, and parts of Bryansk and Kharkiv Oblasts. The coat of arms of the then-Governorate is still used by the modern Belgorod Oblast.