An ancient Russian settlement on the banks of the Volga, the city of Kostroma, the population, the number of inhabitants of which will be the object of consideration in the article, appeared in the 12th century. Over the centuries, the city grew, changed, developed, and all this was reflected in the composition and number of its population. Today Kostroma belongs to the group of typical settlements of medium size in Russia. The city has special characteristics that affect its residents.
Geographical position of Kostroma
300 km from Moscow to the north-east, on the Volga, there is a large port - Kostroma. The city was located on the site of the old river mouth with the same name. Kostroma lies on both banks of the Gorky reservoir, which appeared in the middle of the 20th century and flooded part of the territory formerly called the Kostroma Gulf (i.e., flood meadows). Several streams and small rivers flow through the city, which are enclosed in pipes so as not to disturb the residents.
The settlement is located on the Kostroma Lowland and has a fairly even landscape comfortable for life. The total area of urban areas is 144.4 square kilometers. The distance to the nearest major cities is: 65 km to Yaroslavl, 105 km to Ivanovo.
What characterizes the population? G. Kostroma is growing due to the gradual absorption of nearby settlements by the city. Agglomeration of Kostroma is slowly but increasing.
Settlement history
The territory on which Kostroma is located today began to be inhabited even in the Neolithic era (5-3 millennia BC). Representatives of the Pit and Volosovo cultures, living here, gave names to the main rivers and lakes. It is believed that the first permanent population in this territory belonged to the Finno-Ugric tribes. However, a historical analysis of local toponyms does not always confirm this version. The first population was mostly temporary, it did not build large, stationary settlements. The confirmed date of the foundation of the settlement on the site of Kostroma is considered to be 1152. The historian V.N. Tatishchev investigated the life of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and came to the conclusion that it was at the confluence of the Kostroma and Volga rivers that there was a settlement that he founded. Archeologists confirm that several prehistoric cultures existed on the site of the city, but then, for unknown reasons, the population left this territory. Therefore, the version of the founding of the city by Yuri Dolgoruky seems quite viable.
In the 12th century, the most ancient Fedorov Church was operating in Kostroma. There is also information about the functioning of three ancient monasteries. The population of Kostroma was large enough for that time. Until the 14th century, the city was in the possession of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and his descendants. In 1364, Kostroma became part of the Moscow Principality; from that time on, stable development of the settlement and an increase in the number of its inhabitants began. In 1709, the city received provincial status, which led to the expansion of its territory. In 1781, Empress Catherine the Second signed a general reconstruction plan for the settlement. He suggested the elimination of many defense structures and the creation of public and residential quarters.
At the end of the 18th century, industry began to develop in the city, which led to a significant influx of population. The second round of migration to Kostroma falls on the second half of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. When the quality of life improves significantly in the city, new jobs appear in it. The industrialization of the Soviet period also led to an increase in population.
During the Patriotic War, many medical, industrial and educational institutions were evacuated here. Since the 50s, an economic boom has begun in the city, and this, of course, leads to a positive dynamics in the number of inhabitants.
During the restructuring of Kostroma, to a lesser extent than many other settlements, it is experiencing a demographic decline, although it certainly was. This is due to the preservation of the economic potential of the city. Today Kostroma begins to develop new areas of employment for the population, which has a positive effect on demographic indicators.
Climate
Kostroma belongs to the zone of temperate continental climate. Here you can feel the warm influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which gives the winter some softness. Historically, the population of the city (including Kostroma) depends on the comfort of the climate. So, in the harsh regions, fewer people settled earlier than in the warm ones. The average annual temperature in the city is 4.2 degrees.
The seasons in Kostroma, as well as in the entire middle zone of Russia, roughly fit into the classic calendar. Summer begins in late May and ends in late August. The average summer temperature is 22 degrees, the hottest and driest month is July. Winter temperatures are kept at around -10 ° C on average. But a few days a season can be quite severe frosts, even up to 30 degrees.
Administrative and territorial division and population distribution
Today Kostroma is a large regional center. Officially, the city allocated three large territorial units: Central, Zavolzhsky and Factory districts. Already by the names you can judge the specifics of each part.
Kostroma, whose population varies greatly in regions, has a pronounced center with a high population density and a large number of suburbs that are not officially part of the city limits. These include the villages of Pervomaisky, Novy, Trudovoy, Rebrovka, Karavaevo, Karimovo and many others. Also, a large number of microdistricts is allocated in the city, the number of which is constantly growing due to new buildings.
The second most populated area is Zavolzhsky. In the Factory and in the suburbs, the density is lower, but the area of these parts of the city is constantly growing.
Infrastructure Kostroma
The comfort level of life in the city is an important factor of attractiveness for the population and migrants. Social infrastructure, primarily in large cities, includes a transport system. Kostroma, whose population (population) is gradually growing, including due to the absorption of suburban villages, has obvious transport problems. They are connected with the fact that residents of the Factory and Zavolzhsky regions most often go to the city center to work and receive various services. And only three bridges are thrown across the river, so during rush hours from some areas, for example, Malyshkovo, it can be difficult to leave.
In the city, public transport is represented by buses, trolleybuses, minibuses. But the remote areas are connected with the center mainly by minibuses, the passenger capacity of which is small. The center is well provided with social enterprises, there are many shops, cafes, museums, cultural institutions. Of the remaining parts of the city, only the New Town microdistrict can boast of developed infrastructure; residents of the rest of the city often have to go to the center to receive services. All this affects the attractiveness of Kostroma regions for people, the population density in different parts of the city.
The number and density of the population
Regular monitoring of the dynamics of the number of inhabitants in Kostroma began in 1811. Then in the city lived 10 thousand people. Until the mid-19th century, there was no stability in the number of inhabitants, fluctuations reached 4 thousand people in a few years. But since 1856, the number of Kostroma citizens only grew. This continued until 2000, when the negative dynamics of one thousand people was first recorded.
Even during the years of wars and revolutions, Kostroma remained an attractive city for living. Until 2011, it decreased on average by one thousand inhabitants. But gradually the dynamics returned to plus. Today the population of Kostroma is about 276,700 people. The growth of recent years reaches 3 thousand people. in year. The average population density in the city is 1900 people per square kilometer. This is twice as much as the average in the Kostroma region.
Ethnic composition and language
The overwhelming majority of Kostroma residents are Russians, about 93%. The second largest ethnic group is Ukrainians (0.88%). The remaining nationalities are represented in small numbers: Tatars - 0.35%, Armenians - 0.26%, Gypsies - 0.24%.
In recent years, Kostroma, whose population is gradually growing, has experienced an all-Russian tendency to increase the number of migrants, especially from Ukraine, but the influx of Central Asians characteristic of the country is not felt here.
Sexual differentiation of the population
Kostroma, the population, the number of men and women of which are the subject of close observation by sociologists, fits into the general Russian trend in the ratio of sexes. On average, the number of men is less than women by about 20%. For every thousand men there are 1,204 women. As throughout the country, at birth the number of boys slightly prevails over the number of girls. And with age, this ratio changes, reaching maximum values in adulthood.
Age differentiation of the population
The average life expectancy in Russia is gradually growing, and Kostroma fits into this trend. The population overstepping retirement age is steadily increasing. The number of residents younger than working age is about 15%, and this figure is gradually increasing. The number of residents older than retirement age is 24%. The number of people of working age is 61%.
Demographic indicators
To identify the quality of life in the region, indicators such as fertility and mortality are usually estimated. The growing population of Kostroma in recent years is not associated with a growing birth rate, but with migration. Since 2013, the birth rate has been decreasing in the city by about 0.2 people for every thousand inhabitants. Mortality is reduced by about 0.4 people per 1 thousand people. Recently, a decrease in the flow of visitors is planned.
Demographic Odds
The calculation of demographic coefficients allows us to predict the economic development of the region. Kostroma, whose population has been growing slightly in recent years, belongs to the "aging" cities.
Life expectancy is increasing, mortality is decreasing, fertility is declining at a slow pace, and sociologists say that there is a possibility of even greater negative dynamics of this indicator in the coming years. All of the above leads to the fact that the coefficient of demographic load is growing. Today, every able-bodied resident of Kostroma must provide accommodation in addition to himself another 0.4 people. And in the future, this load will increase. The coefficient of the pension burden is also increasing, since the number of people older than the retirement age will only increase every year. All this entails certain economic and social difficulties.
Economy of Kostroma
The quantity and quality of the population is very strongly influenced by economic indicators. If people have stable earnings and guarantees for the future, then they are more willing to give birth to children. If they live in abundance, they eat better, receive better health care and live longer.
Kostroma, whose population is gradually growing, compares favorably with many Russian cities with a large number of stable industrial enterprises. There are factories for the production of automotive components, ventilation, energy-saving, heating, commercial, refrigeration equipment. The city has a well-developed food, processing, textile industry. In recent years, the tourism sector has been growing rapidly, and the service sector is worse. The city’s economy is experiencing difficulties with investments, with the development of socially significant areas of health care, education, and culture.
Employment
Having a job is very important for the demography of the region. Kostroma, whose population (number of inhabitants) is growing, and the economy is stable, compares favorably with many Russian cities with low unemployment. It is only 0.8%. There is enough work in the city. However, there are problems with the employment of highly qualified personnel. Employment centers mainly offer vacancies for workers, but for people with higher education, especially women over the age of 30, it can be difficult to find work in their specialty.