Kirovohrad

Kirovohrad (Ukrainian: Кіровогра́д, [kirowɔˈɦrɑd]; Russian: Кировогра́д, Kirovograd), formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine located on the Inhul river, and is the administrative center of the Kirovohrad Oblast. Population: 234,322 (2013 est.).

The city is the birthplace of noted figures such as Grigory Zinoviev, Volodymyr Vynnychenko, Arseny Tarkovsky, African Spir and others.

Administrative status

Today Kirovohrad is a city of oblast significance with 244,000 inhabitants. It is divided into two districts — Kirovsky and Leninsky. The urban-type settlement of Nove is part of the Kirovsky district. Kirovohrad serves as the administrative center of Kirovohrad Raion, though administratively it does not belong to the raion.

Name origin

Over its history, Kirovohrad has changed its name several times. Presenting a letter of grant on January 11, 1752 to Major-General Jovan Horvat, the organizer of Nova Serbia settlements, the Empress Elizabeth of Russia ordered "to found an earthen fortress and name it Fort St. Elizabeth" (see On the Historical Meaning of the Name Elizabeth for Our City) (in Ukrainian). Thus simultaneously the future city was named in honour of its formal founder, the Russian empress, and also in honor of her heavenly patroness, St. Elizabeth.