More recently, Odessa could be called a millionaire city. However, today the city no longer has this status. What is the population of Odessa today? What nationalities settled in South Palmyra and how do they live here?
The population of Odessa and its population
The last census in Ukraine was conducted, as is known, back in 2001. At that time, one million and 29 thousand people lived in the city of Odessa. Ten years later, South Palmyra, unfortunately, has lost its status as a millionaire city. The main reason for this was the general depopulation of the population as a whole throughout the country (due, first of all, to low birth rates).
How many people live in Odessa today? According to preliminary estimates, the Department of Social Protection of the Population submits a figure of 1,029,650 inhabitants (although this is not a permanent population, but the current population). In other words, the city again overcame the millionth milestone. Experts suggest that this could happen due to a significant influx of refugees from Eastern Ukraine to Odessa.
It is also worth noting that in the summer the population of Odessa increases markedly thanks to tourists and vacationers. Odessans even jokingly celebrate in September "the second day of the liberation of the city."
What is the gender structure of the population of this city? According to available statistics, 53% of women and 47% of men live in Odessa.
What did the inhabitants of Odessa think? History of the First Censuses
Odessa, as you know, was founded in 1794. It is not easy to believe, but in those days it was a difficult task to “lure” people to this city. The first settlers were attracted to the Black Sea coast with the help of various benefits: state houses, cash bonuses of 150 rubles and exemption from military service.
For the first time, the population of Odessa was calculated already in 1795. At that time 2349 people lived in the city. Interestingly, almost 25% of this number were runaway serfs from other regions of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the XIX century in Odessa, the construction of the seaport begins. This event was a key incentive in attracting new residents to the city.
The census of 1817 showed that the population of Odessa has grown to 32 thousand people. And twenty years later, it confidently crossed the 50,000th milestone. However, the first serious population census in Odessa took place in 1892. The City Council allocated over 30 thousand rubles for its implementation. The census lasted three days! Two weeks after the end of the collection of cards, the city Statburo finally announced the total number: 336 thousand people! Moreover, every third resident of Odessa was a Jew.
Ethnic composition of the population
It's no secret that the population of Odessa is multinational. Today Ukrainians and Russians, Bulgarians and Moldavians, Jews and Armenians coexist peacefully here.
So, the national composition of the modern Odessa population is as follows: the most numerous ethnic group in the city are Ukrainians (about 62%). They are followed by Russians (29%), Bulgarians (1.3%), Jews (1.2%), Moldavians (about 1%), as well as Belarusians, Poles, Armenians, Greeks and other nationalities.
Jewish community in Odessa and its history
The powerful Jewish diaspora in Odessa has always existed. About 125 thousand Jews were in this city at the end of the century before last. Although they settled in the vicinity of Odessa even before the foundation of the city itself. So, scientists discovered a Jewish tombstone dated to 1770 in the area of the Turkish fortress Hadzhibey.
Already at the end of the 18th century, the first synagogue and a school for Jewish children were being built in the city. In 1809, the first rabbi, Yitzhak Rabinovich, also arrived in Odessa from Moldavian Bender. After a large port was built on the seashore, more Jews arrived in Odessa. They immediately began to actively participate in the life of the city, ran for and even were elected to the magistrate.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were at least 32% of Jews in Odessa. At their disposal in the city were 7 synagogues, 89 educational institutions and two hundred headers (elementary schools). Then came the revolution, and after it - the war and Nazi occupation, after which the size of this ethnic group was reduced by almost 30 times!
Today, the Odessa Jewish community has several kindergartens, a school with an in-depth study of Hebrew. The Jews of Odessa have their own women's club, as well as kosher shops and restaurants. Odessa Jewish community publishes its own newspaper, which is distributed free of charge.
Moldovan community in Odessa and its history
Another large nation living in Odessa is Moldovans. Indeed, to the Moldavian border from the Ukrainian city is just a stone's throw - only 50 kilometers. And one of the districts of Odessa is called Moldavanka.
Moldovans, and Ukrainians themselves, often like to recall that over the past 650 years there has not been a single military conflict between the two countries. Moldovans living in Odessa get along well with Ukrainians, calling them peaceful and very hardworking.
According to the latest data, at least 8 thousand Moldovans live in South Palmyra. And in the whole Odessa region there are 125 thousand of them. Odessa Moldovans are engaged in a foreign land mainly three things - agriculture, business and science. Among professors and teachers of Odessa universities there are many immigrants from a neighboring state.
Moldovans in Odessa feel very easy and comfortable. They have no language barrier, as a rule, they are fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian. Representatives of this minority celebrate their traditional folk holidays in Odessa: Merzisor and Malanka. By the way, it is the Odessa community of Moldovans that finances the publication of the all-Ukrainian newspaper "Luche Feru", which is published in Moldovan for representatives of the diaspora.
Odessa: gas. Tariffs for the population
New tariffs for heating and gas are a question that very much worries Odessa citizens. In May 2015, the local company Odessagaz announced new tariffs for residents of the city.
So, the monthly gas payment (for residents of apartments with ordinary gas stoves) has increased 3 times and today amounts to 21.56 hryvnias per person. But the owners of geysers must pay 64.69 hryvnia per person.
Along with this, tariffs for heating and hot water also increased. For one cubic meter of heated water, Odessa residents now need to pay 42.14 UAH. The new heating tariff is 16.7 UAH. for one "meter" of area. For reference: one hryvnia is approximately a little more than three Russian rubles.
Conclusion
Odessa is a large port city in the south of Ukraine, the population of which ranges from one million people. Dozens of different nationalities live here. The most numerous of them are Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Moldavians, Bulgarians, Greeks and Armenians.