Hrazdan

Hrazdan Հրազդան
From top left: Makravank Monastery • Hrazdan reservoir World War II memorial • Artsakh War memorial Hrazdan skyline
Hrazdan Հրազդան Location of Hrazdan in Armenia
Coordinates: 40°30′0″N 44°46′0″E / 40.50000°N 44.76667°E / 40.50000; 44.76667Coordinates: 40°30′0″N 44°46′0″E / 40.50000°N 44.76667°E / 40.50000; 44.76667
Country Marz	Armenia Kotayk
Founded	1959
Government
• Mayor	Aram Danielyan
Area
• Total	22 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	1,675 m (5,495 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	41,875
• Density	1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Time zone	AMT (UTC+4)
Postal code	2301-2309
Area code(s)	(+374) 223
Website	www.hrazdan.am
Sources: Population

Hrazdan (Armenian: , formerly Akhta), is a town in Armenia and the capital of the Kotayk Province, located 45 kilometres (28 miles) northeast of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town is 41,875. It has lost a significant number of inhabitants since the 1989 census reported 59,000 people.

During the Soviet period, Hrazdan was one of the highly industrialized centres of the Armenian SSR.

The name Hrazdan is derived from the Middle-Persian name Frazdān, related to the Zoroastrian mythology. The town is named after the Hrazdan River.

Historically, the territory of Hrazdan is associated with the historic Kotayk canton of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia. According to Ptolemy, Kotayk was directly ruled by the Arsacid kings of Armenia during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Later between the 5th and 7th centuries, the region was granted to the Kamsarakan and Amatuni families, under the Persian rule. Between the 7th and 9th centuries, Armenia suffered from the Arab Islamic occupation.

By the end of the 9th century, the region became part of the newly established Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. Between the 11th and 15th centuries, the region suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the territory became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia. During the first half of the 18th century, the territory became part of the Erivan Khanate under the rule of the Afsharid dynasty and later under the Qajar dynasty of Persia. It remained under the Persian rule until 1827-1828, when Eastern Armenia was ceded by the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay. With the fall of the Russian Empire and after the decisive Armenian victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad, Abaran, and Gharakilisa, the region became part of the independent Armenia in May 1918. After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in December 1920.