City of Kharkiv(Kharkiv in Ukrainian, Kharkov in Russian) Table of Contents
Information excerpted from City of Kharkiv brochures. The city of Kharkiv was founded over 340 years ago at the crossroads of major transportation routes. It has now become one of Ukraine's largest centers for science, industry and culture. Due to its industrial and economic potential, Kharkiv has been recognized by the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development as the most promising Ukrainian city for business cooperation. Among the cities of the now independent Ukraine, Kharkiv occupies a place of its own - that of a most active and efficient center for craftsmanship, science and technology. Initially a fort, the town gradually turned into a center for handicrafts and market trade. Being advantageously positioned at the crossroads of trade routes connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg with Kyiv (Kiev in Russian), the Crimea and the Caucasus, naturally provided for direct trade ties with the countries of Western Europe, the Near East and the Balkan peninsula. Multilingual seasonal fairs could boast a trading turnover greater than that of all other trade fairs in Ukraine combined. In the second half of the 19th century, Kharkiv developed into a large industrial center. It grew rapidly and expanded beyond the limits of its historical old town. At the beginning of the 20th century there were over 150 plants and factories, innumerable commercial enterprises, joint stock companies, credit institutions, and other enterprises. One of the best known municipal banks of the pre-Revolution period was the City Public Merchants' Bank of Kharkiv. The first university in Eastern and Central Ukraine was the University of Kharkiv, and Kharkiv was the capital of Soviet Ukraine from 1918 to 1934. In addition, the first nuclear fission reaction in Europe was carried out in Kharkiv. Location, Territories, Communications Kharkiv is situated in northeastern Ukraine at the confluence of the Kharkiv and Logan rivers. Its population in 1995 was 1.6 million in an area of 297.4 sq. kilometers (114.8 sq. miles). Its excellent location, close to the largest industrial centers in Ukraine and Russia, and a developed network of transportation and communications facilities make Kharkiv of great interest to manufacturers and investors from countries throughout the world. Kharkiv is one of the largest transportation centers in Ukraine, connected to numerous cities of the world by air, rail and road. Kharkivites are proud of their city Metro, whose third line was opened in May, 1995 on the eve of the 50thanniversary of Victory Day. The City has adequate consignment storage facilities and customs offices, as well as available land and buildings for offices and factory expansions. Major steps are being taken to make good use of modern communication technology in Kharkiv such as electronic mail, cellular and satellite communication systems, and global computer networks. Kharkiv is the largest Ukrainian industrial center. Among cities of the CIS, it is second only to Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are roughly 250 large industrial enterprises in the city, the most important of which are in mechanical engineering and metal working, electrical power engineering and construction materials industries. The chemical, printing and woodworking industries are also well developed, and the city has a highly developed civil engineering industry. The products of Kharkiv companies are well known in Ukraine and abroad. They include tractors and turbines, jet aircraft, automated machine tools, electrical motors and engines for agricultural machinery, TV sets and electrical devices, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Specialists from Kharkiv have contributed greatly to rocket engineering and the exploration of space. Control systems for carrier rockets and space vehicles, as well as several generations of rocket systems, have been developed by research and engineering specialists from Kharkiv. These systems constitute the core of the CIS space program. At the beginning of 1995, there were nearly 6,700 small and medium sized businesses making a considerable contribution to the Kharkiv infrastructure. These include a number of light industry enterprises such as textiles, knitted fabrics and tailoring. The research and development potential of the city is represented by its research and design institutes and design offices. Kharkiv is the largest regional center for the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, and over 150 institutions in Kharkiv deal with science and research work. Fundamental research schools and universities in Kharkiv are leaders in the country. Investigations by Kharkiv scientists in the fields of solid-state physics, cryobiology and cryomedicine, radio electronics, crystal synthesis, low temperature physics, genetics and selection are known worldwide. Specialists in various fields of expertise are trained in Kharkiv state institutions including six academies, 10 universities and eight institutes. Institutions such as Kharkiv State University, State Law Academy, Engineering and Pedagogic Academy, and Pharmaceutical Academy are well known and respected. There is also a growing number of private educational institutions. The high education level of the population is a major factor in the continuing progress of the City. The city has 193 elementary, middle and high schools, eight college preparatory high schools, 37 vocational schools and four junior colleges. The students of these schools provide an excellent, highly qualified, labor pool for business enterprises and institutions. Kharkiv hospitals have a capacity for 22 thousand patients. There is a reliable network of drug stores at the disposal of the citizens. Medical institutes and clinics successfully combine their practical medical practices with research. Kharkiv has a long-standing theatrical tradition. There are six major theaters in the city. The musical life of Kharkiv is closely connected to the Lysenko State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Famous Ukrainian and foreign singers and dancers have performed in this theater, which seats 2,000. Kharkiv has a large number of museums, the most popular of which are the Museum of History, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History. Among the numerous libraries in the city, the principle one - the Korolenko State Scientific Library - is a real treasurer-house of knowledge. Its shelves house over 6.5 million volumes. There are numerous kindergartens, nursery schools and other preschool facilities which provide interesting and diverse leisure activities for children. An international fund for supporting talented young people has recently been instituted. Favorite places for Kharkivites to spend their leisure hours include the Shevshenko Town Gardens, Gorky City Park with its numerous entertainment facilities, Forest Park and the Zoo. Numerous sports facilities are provided in the city. There are 19 stadiums, 850 sports grounds, 363 gymnasiums, over 40 tennis courts and 19 swimming pools. Kharkiv has 1180 shopping facilities and 13 markets including the famous Blagovishchensky and Kinny markets. Highly professional services are provided by the Trade & Industry Chamber of Commerce, nine exchange facilities, 23 commercial banks and branch offices of the National Bank of Ukraine, and 607 broker companies. Numerous Kharkiv hotels open their doors to visitors, with excellent restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes. Cultural Relations and Economic Integration Products from Kharkiv are well known in 50+ countries. About 60 major Kharkiv firms and institutions work with business partners from neighboring and other foreign countries. In addition, there are some 600 foreign business relationships. Representative offices of Renault, Minolta, Siemens, Panasonic and other companies successfully work in Kharkiv. Kharkiv has established Sister City relationships with Cincinnati (USA), Nuremberg (Germany), Lille (France), Bologna (Italy), Tientsin (China) and Varna (Bulgaria). To compliment the political and economic changes that are underway in Ukraine today, Kharkiv is interested in attracting investments, advanced technologies, material resources as well as business partnerships on mutually profitable terms. 1665 The future town is first mentioned in a written document. 1656 Cossacks from Zaporozhia (Beyond-the-Dnieper Ukraine) build a wooden fort and name it "Kharkiv" after the name of the river flowing through the town. 1689 The Pokrovska (Protection) Monastery is built. 1726 The church School (later the Collegium of Kharkiv) opens. 1765 By an edict of Catherine the Second, Queen of Russia, Kharkiv becomes the center of the Slobidska Ukraine Province. 1780-1796 Kharkiv becomes the seat of the Governor-General of the Province. It was at that time that the city received its official emblem, the symbol of abundant natural resources and expanding trade. 1791 The first theater in the city is opened. 1805 Kharkiv University - the first in Livoberezhna (on the left bank of the Dnieper) Ukraine and the third in the Russian empire - is founded. 1812 The first newspaper "Kharkovsky Yezhenedelnik" ("Kharkiv Weekly")is published. It "announced the starting point of Ukrainian press". 1835 The Slobidska Ukraine Province is reorganized into the Kharkiv Province. 1864 The "zemstvo" system (the system of provincial self-governing) is introduced. 1869 The first railway main line connecting Kursk, Kharkiv and Azovsk is opened. 1870 An ironworks is built 1881 The first line of the municipal water supply system is constructed. 1882 The new type of municipal transport - "konka" (horse drawn tram) is introduced. 1885 The technological Institute (now the Kharkiv Polytechnic University) is built. 1886 The first public library in the Russian empire is built in Kharkiv. 1895 The steam locomotive works starts production. 1917 The Kharkiv Conservatoire opens.. 1918-1934 Kharkiv serves as the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukrainian SSR). 1928 The construction of the Derzhprom (House of State Industry) - the most remarkable building in the Soviet period in Kharkiv - is completed. 1930 Kharkiv airport - one of the first in Ukraine - opens. 1931 The Kharkiv tractor plant starts industrial production. 1932 The scientists of the Ukrainian Technical Institute of Physics construct a proton accelerator and effect the first artificial nuclear fission reaction in Europe. 1934 The Kharkiv Turbo-generator Works starts production. 1935 The monument to the outstanding Ukrainian poet and painter Taras Shevshenko is erected. 1941-1943 Occupation of the city by the Nazis during World War II. August 23, 1943 The Red Army liberates Kharkiv. 1962 The one millionth inhabitant of Kharkiv is born. 1967 The general plan for the development of the city is approved. 1975 The first line of the city underground begins operation. 1985 Researchers and engineers of the Kharkiv institute of radio-astronomy construct one of the world's largest radio-telescopes. 1989 Construction of the new building of the Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater is completed. 1995 Kharkiv airport obtains international status.
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