Orikhiv Raion

Orikhiv Raion (Ukrainian: Оріхівський район, Orikhivs'kyi raion) is one of the 20 raions (districts) of Zaporizhia Oblast in southern Ukraine. The administrative center of the raion is located in the city of Orikhiv. Its population was 54,462 as of the 2001 Ukrainian Census. Current population: 47,228 (2013 est.).

Geography

The Orikhiv Raion is located in the northeast portion of the Zaporizhia Oblast. Its total area constitutes 1,600 km² (620 sq mi). The Komyshuvakha, Konka, Sherebets, Verkhnia Tersa, and Mala Tokmachka Rivers flow through the raion.

History

The Orikhiv Raion was first established on 7 March 1923 as part of a full-scale administrative reorganization of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Government

The Orikhiv Raion is governed by the Orikhiv Raion Council (Ukrainian: Оріхівська районна рада, Orikhivs'ka raionna rada), which consists of 48 locally elected deputies. In October 2014, Karina Dudnichenko was elected the chairman of the council.

Administrative divisions

Orikhiv

Orikhiv (Ukrainian: Оріхів) is a city in Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Orikhiv Raion. Population: 15,281 (2013 est.).

History of Orikhiv

Orikhiv was originally founded on about 1793 near the Konka River; it was incorporated in 1801. It is situated about 50 km (31.07 mi) southeast of Aleksandrovsk (today Zaporizhya), and almost the same distance north of the Molochna Kolonia (Milk Colony). In 1818 Orikhiv appeared to be a place where military personnel of the Czar was stationed; an officer from Orikhiv came out to finalize arrangements for the Czar's visit to Lindenau in May of that year. As early as 1836 a "Salt Road" (Tschumakemveg) connected Orikhiv with Perekop to the south, the road running through the Molochna Kolonia. This road was still shown on maps of 1852. In 1850 Orikhiv was within the boundaries of Taurida, near the northeast border of that province. When the railway was built connecting Aleksandrovsk to Berdyansk it went through Orikhiv, presumably helping the development of the city and giving an easy access to the port at Berdyansk.