Velikiye Luki is one of the famous cities of the Pskov region, forming an urban district with the same name. He received the status of the city in 1777. Now it is a large industrial, cultural, commercial and educational center of the region. The population of Great Onions is gradually decreasing.
The city includes 4 microdistricts. The population of Great Onions is 91,435 people (with a tendency to a gradual decrease). Basically, these are Russian Orthodox faiths. The area of the city is 60.08 square meters. km Height above sea level - about 100 m.
History of the city
The city is known as the center of military glory. He always performed an important defensive role. They first spoke of him in 1166. In 2016, there were anniversary celebrations on this occasion.
Until 1406, the place was simply called Luke. Probably, this name was associated with the onion-shaped bend of the river or with vast flood meadows.
Geography of Great Onions
The city is located on a plain, close to the border with Latvia and Belarus. The distance to the first is 200 km, and to the second - 80 km. It is located 313 km southeast of the city of Pskov.
The climate is rather humid, with relatively long and not very cold winters, not hot and rather humid in summers. Humidity is high.
City industry
Velikiye Luki is a large industrial complex that provides up to 40 percent of the region’s production. The most developed food industry. This is followed by the production of electrical equipment, mechanisms and machines, metal products, clothing and mineral products. Obviously, all this should be conducive to employment by the population of Great Onions.
In the city budget, education has the greatest weight, and in the second place is housing and communal services.
Transport system
2 lines of the railway pass through Velikiye Luki, and the M9 Moscow-Baltic highway , which is of federal significance, is laid next to it. Railways are single track and do not have electrification. There is also a bus station, railway station and airport. There are 22 bus routes in the city. Most common are minibuses.
The population of Velikiye Luki
In 2018, the population was 91,435 people. The dynamics of this indicator indicates steady growth over most of the 20th century and up to 1994. Then a recession began, which continues until the present moment.
At the peak of the population (in 1993), there were 117 thousand people in the city. In 1913 - 10,400 people. However, if the current trend continues, there may be almost no people left in this village in 50 years.
The population density of Velikiye Luki is 1,521.4 people / km 2 .
The city takes 187 place in terms of the number of inhabitants among other cities of Russia. The share of great-lovers of the total population of the Pskov region is 14 percent.
In the city there is a significant predominance of mortality over fertility. In 2010, 953 people were born, and 1642 died. At the same time, 761 people moved to the city, and 1120 left it.
In recent years, as in other Russian cities, Velikiye Luki has seen a decrease in both fertility and mortality. In 2016, 1,085 people were born and 1,488 died. In 2017, 894 were born and 1,471 died. Cardiovascular diseases play a decisive role in mortality, which is typical for the whole country.
Migration in the last 2 years ensured a decrease in the number of residents by 859 and 754 for 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The proportion of the population of older age groups is increasing.
National composition
The bulk of the population in Velikiye Luki are representatives of Russian nationality (95.71%). In second place are Ukrainians (0.79%). Belarusians occupy the third line (0.75%). Then follow the Armenians with a share of 0.29%. Azerbaijanis are in fifth place, and Jews and Tatars are in sixth place. The rest have a share of less than 1/10 percent.
Employment
According to official figures, the unemployment rate in the city is very low - only 0.69 of the number of able-bodied residents. In the structure of employment, manufacturing comes first. It accounts for 19.4% of employees. The second - repair and trade - 18.8% of the number of employed. About 10 percent are employed in education. One percent less - in the field of transport and communications. This is followed by construction, real estate, social services and medicine, public service, domestic works, housing and communal services, hotel and restaurant business, and in the last place - the financial sector.
The proportion of able-bodied citizens is 63.8%, and the employed population is 37.6%. Pensioners in the city are 20.4%, and for younger generations - 15.8%.
Social protection of the population in Velikiye Luki
In Velikiye Luki, 7 social protection and rehabilitation institutions have been created. There is a society of the blind, the deaf, the disabled, as well as a branch of the Red Cross.
Places to visit
The most visited sites in this city are:
- Park of Culture and Rest. The river Lovati flows along it. A monument was erected to the hero of the USSR and eternal flame.
- Museum of Local Lore. Within its walls you can learn about local history, the war years and nature.
- Velikiye Luki fortress. This is a large structure with towers up to 50 meters high. Nearby is a monument to a tank flying to the sky.
- Theatre of Drama. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century.
- Literary and Art Museum. Dedicated to World War II. Contains a huge number of manuscripts and books. There is also the House of Environmental Education.
This article provides information on how many people are in Velikiye Luki. The dynamics are also considered and a disappointing conclusion is made about the possible gradual extinction of the city. Despite this, the situation on the labor market, judging by official data, is rather favorable. The level of social protection of the population is clearly insufficient. In order for this original Russian city not to go into oblivion, much more radical measures and support from the federal authorities are required.