Demidov, Smolensk Oblast
| Demidov (English) Демидов (Russian) |
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 The Dormition Cathedral, Demidov |
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.svg) Location of Smolensk Oblast in Russia |
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 Demidov
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| Administrative status (as of February 2014) | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Smolensk Oblast |
| Administrative district | Demidovsky District |
| Urban settlement | Demidovskoye |
| Administrative center of | Demidovsky District, Demidovskoye Urban Settlement |
| Municipal status (as of October 2011) | |
| Municipal district | Demidovsky Municipal District |
| Urban settlement | Demidovskoye Urban Settlement |
| Administrative center of | Demidovsky Municipal District, Demidovskoye Urban Settlement |
| Statistics | |
| Area (urban settlement) (February 2014) | 78.92 km2 (30.47 sq mi) |
| Population (2010 Census) | 19,738 inhabitants |
| Density | 250/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MSK (UTC+03:00) |
| Town status since | 1776 |
| Previous names | Porechye (until 1918) |
| Postal code(s) | 216240, 216279 |
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Demidov (Russian: Деми́дов) is a town and the administrative center of Demidovsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kasplya River at its confluence with the Gobza River. Population: 7,333 (2010 Census);8,786 (2002 Census);10,198 (1989 Census).
The area was settled in the prehistory, and, as the Western Dvina always has been an important waterway, there are multiple archaeological sites in the district. The fortress of Porechye (Поре́чье) is first mentioned in 1499, and since 1514 it belonged to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, at the border with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1580, after the Livonian War, the area was transferred to Poland, where it was included into Vitebsk Voivodeship. In 1667, according to the Truce of Andrusovo, it was transferred back to Russia. Subsequently Porechye developed as an important trading post since it was located at the intersection of roads connecting Saint Petersburg with Kiev and Moscow with Riga. The Kasplya was navigable until mid-19th century, and Porechye sent ships to Riga. Later, it lost its trade important, since the Kasplya became more shallow, and the railway between Moscow and Riga went via Velikiye Luki, far from Porechye.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Smolensk Governorate and remained there until 1929, with the exception of the brief periods between 1713 and 1726, when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into Smolensk Viceroyalty. In 1776, Porechye was granted a town status, and Porechsky Uyezd with the center in Porechye was established. On 19 November 1918, Porechye was renamed Demidov, to commemorate the bolshevik Yakov Demidov, who was the chairman of the Uyezd Communist Party Committee and was killed during the Russian Civil War. Porechsky Uyezd was renamed Demidovsky Uyezd. In 1927, Demidovsky Uyezd was abolished.
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