Vanadzor

Vanadzor
From top left: Panorama of Vanadzor Central Park Vanadzor skyline • Pambak River Church of the Holy Mother of God • Russian Church of the Nativity Lori Province administration • Hayk Square Pambak Mountains around Vanadzor
Seal
Vanadzor
Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 44°29′18″E / 40.81278°N 44.48833°E / 40.81278; 44.48833
Country	Armenia
Marz	Lori
Founded	1828
Government
• Mayor	Mamikon Aslanyan
Area
• Total	25.1 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Elevation	1,350 m (4,430 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	86,199
• Density	3,400/km2 (8,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Vanadzortsi
Time zone	AMT (UTC+4)
Postal code	2001-2024
Area code(s)	(+374) 322
Vehicle registration	36
Website	Vanadzor official website
Sources: Population

Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 44°29′18″E / 40.81278°N 44.48833°E / 40.81278; 44.48833 Vanadzor (Armenian: Վանաձոր pronounced [vɑnɑˈd͡zɔɾ]), is the third-largest city in Armenia and the capital of the Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located around 128 kilometres (80 miles) north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the city had a population of 86,199, down from 148,876 reported at the 1979 official census. The city was known as Gharakilisa (Karakilisa) during the Russian rule. After the Sovietization of Armenia, the city was renamed Kirovakan (Armenian: Կիրովական) in 1935, after the Bolshevik leader Sergey Kirov. After the independence of Armenia, Kirovakan was renamed Vanadzor in 1992.

The city is in a picturesque setting, with an attractive planned town centre. Mostly crumbling Soviet-era chemical factories dominate much of the valley below the city.

The area of present-day Vanadzor has been settled since the Bronze Age, based on the tombs and other historic remains found on the nearby hills of Tagavoranist and Mashtots. During the ancient Armenian kingdoms, the area was considered as part of the Tashir canton of Gugark; the 13th province of the Kingdom of Armenia (Armenia Mayor), until the end of the Artaxiad Dynasty's rule over Armenia in the 1st century AD. Later, the region was ruled by the other Armenian dynasties of the Arsacids and the Bagratunis. By the end of the 10th century, the area became part of the Kingdom of Lori (Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget) until the beginning of the 12th century. With the invasion of the Seljuk Turks, the region became under the rule of the Great Seljuk Empire. The settlement was called Gharakilisa (meaning the black church in Turkic) by the Seljuks possibly as early as the 13th century, from the black-stoned Armenian church of the Holy Mother of God, on the nearby hill.