An old 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 size of its population. Today Kostroma belongs to the group of typical medium-sized settlements in Russia. The city also has special characteristics that affect its inhabitants.
Geographic location of Kostroma
300 km from Moscow to the north-east, on the Volga, there is a large port - Kostroma. The city is located on the site of the old mouth of the river of 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 Bay (i.e. water meadows). On the territory of the citythere are several streams and small rivers that are enclosed in pipes so as not to disturb the inhabitants.
The settlement is located on the Kostroma lowland and has a fairly flat, comfortable landscape for life. The total area of urban areas is 144.4 square kilometers. The distance to the nearest large cities is: to Yaroslavl - 65 km, to Ivanovo - 105 km.
What characterizes the population? The city of Kostroma is growing due to the gradual absorption by the city of nearby settlements. The Kostroma agglomeration is slowly but increasing.
History of settlement
The territory where Kostroma is located today began to be settled in the Neolithic era (5-3 millennium BC). Representatives of Yamochnaya and Volosovo cultures, living here, gave names to the main rivers and lakes. It is believed that the first permanent population in this area belonged to the Finno-Ugric tribes. However, the 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 founding of the settlement on the site of Kostroma is 1152. The historian V. N. Tatishchev studied 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. Archeology confirms that several prehistoric cultures existed on the site of the city, but then, for unknown reasons, the population left this territory. Therefore, the version about the foundationcity by Yuri Dolgoruky looks quite viable.
In the 12th century, the oldest Fedorovskaya church operated 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 the stable development of the settlement and an increase in the number of its inhabitants began. In 1709, the city received the status of a provincial one, which led to the expansion of its territory. In 1781, Empress Catherine II signed a plan for the general restructuring of the settlement. It involved the removal of many defense structures and the creation of public and residential areas.
At the end of the 18th century, industry begins to develop in the city, this leads to a significant influx of people. The second round of migration to Kostroma falls on the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century. When the quality of life improves significantly in a city, new jobs appear in it. The industrialization of the Soviet period also led to an increase in the population.
During World War II, many medical, industrial and educational institutions were evacuated here. Since the 1950s, the economic recovery in the city begins, and this, of course, leads to a positive dynamics in the number of residents.
During perestroika, Kostroma, to a lesser extent than many other settlements, is experiencing a demographic decline, although it, of course, was. It has to do with keepingeconomic potential of the city. Today, Kostroma is starting to develop new areas of employment for the population, which has a positive effect on demographic indicators.
Climate
Kostroma belongs to the temperate continental climate zone. 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. Thus, fewer people used to settle in harsh lands than in warm ones. The average annual temperature in the city is 4.2 degrees.
The seasons in Kostroma, as well as throughout central Russia, roughly fit into the classical calendar. Summer starts at the end of May and ends at the end of August. The average summer temperature is 22 degrees, the hottest and driest month is July. Winter temperatures average around -10°C. But a few days in the season can be quite severe frosts, even up to 30 degrees.
Administrative-territorial division and population distribution
Today Kostroma is a major regional center. Officially, the city has three large territorial units: Central, Zavolzhsky and Factory districts. Already by the names you can judge the specifics of each part.
Kostroma, which varies greatly in population across regions, has a distinct center with a high population density and a large number of suburbs,which are not officially included in the city limits. These include the settlements of Pervomaisky, Novy, Trudovoy, Rebrovka, Karavaevo, Karimovo and many others. Also in the city there is a large number of microdistricts, the number of which is constantly growing due to new buildings.
The second most densely populated area is Zavolzhsky. In Fabrichny and in the suburbs, the density is less, but the areas of these parts of the city are constantly growing.
Infrastructure of Kostroma
The level of comfort of life in the city is an important factor of attraction for the population and migrants. Social infrastructure, primarily in large cities, includes a transport system. Kostroma, the number of inhabitants (population) of which is gradually growing, including due to the absorption of suburban settlements, has obvious transport problems. They are related to the fact that residents of the Fabrichny and Zavolzhsky districts most often go to the city center to work and receive various services. And there are only three bridges across the river, so during peak hours it can be problematic to leave some areas, for example, Malyshkovo.
In the city, public transport is represented by buses, trolleybuses, fixed-route taxis. But remote areas are connected with the center mainly by minibuses, the passenger capacity of which is low. The center is well provided with social enterprises, there are many shops, cafes, museums, cultural institutions. Of the rest of the city, only the New City microdistrict can boast of a developed infrastructure, residentsother parts of the city often have to travel to the center for services. All this affects the attractiveness of Kostroma districts for people, the population density in different parts of the city.
Population size and density
Regular observations of the dynamics of the number of inhabitants in Kostroma began in 1811. At that time, 10 thousand people lived in the city. Until the middle of the 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 residents has only grown. This continued until 2000, when a negative trend of one thousand people was recorded for the first time.
Even during the years of wars and revolutions, Kostroma remained an attractive city to live in. Until 2011, it decreased by an average of one thousand inhabitants. But gradually the dynamics returned to positive. Today, the population of Kostroma is about 276,700 people. The increase in recent years reaches 3 thousand people. in year. The average population density in the city is 1,900 people per square kilometer. This is twice as much as the average for 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%). Other nationalities are represented in small numbers: Tatars - 0.35%, Armenians - 0.26%, Gypsies - 0.24%.
In recent years, Kostroma, whose population is gradually growing, is experiencing an all-Russian upward trendnumber of migrants, especially from Ukraine, but the influx of Central Asians characteristic of the country is not felt here.
Gender differentiation of the population
Kostroma, the population, the number of men and women of which are the subject of close observation of sociologists, fits into the general Russian trend in terms of sex ratio. On average, the number of men is less than women by about 20%. For every thousand men, there are 1204 women. As in the rest of the country, at birth, the number of boys slightly outnumbers the number of girls. And with age, this ratio changes, reaching maximum values in adulthood.
Age differentiation of the population
Life expectancy in Russia is gradually growing, and Kostroma fits into this trend. The number of people over the 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 over retirement age is 24%. The number of people of working age is 61%.
Demographics
To determine the quality of life in the region, such indicators as birth and death are usually estimated. The growing population of Kostroma in recent years is associated not with a growing birth rate, but with migration. Since 2013, the birth rate in the city has been declining by about 0.2 people for every thousand inhabitants. Mortality is reduced by about 0.4 people per 1 thousand people. Lasttime, a decrease in the flow of visitors is planned.
Demographic Coefficients
Calculation of demographic coefficients makes it possible to predict the economic development of the region. Kostroma, whose population has been growing slightly in recent years, is one of the "aging" cities.
Life expectancy is growing, mortality is declining, the birth rate is slowly declining, 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 dependency ratio is growing. Today, every able-bodied resident of Kostroma must provide accommodation for 0.4 other people besides himself. And in the future, this burden will increase. The pension burden ratio is also increasing, since the number of people older than 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 a stable income and guarantees for the future, then they are more willing to give birth to children. If they are well off, they eat better, get better he alth 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 auto components, ventilation, energy-saving,heating, commercial, refrigeration equipment. The city has a well-developed food, manufacturing, and textile industries. In recent years, the tourism sector has been rapidly growing, worse - the service sector. The city's economy is experiencing difficulties with investments, with the development of socially significant areas of he althcare, education, and culture.
Employment of the population
Having a job is very important for the demographics of the region. Kostroma, whose population (number of inhabitants) is growing and the economy is stable, compares favorably with many Russian cities with a low level of unemployment. It is only 0.8%. There are enough jobs in the city. However, there are problems with the employment of highly qualified personnel. Employment centers mainly offer jobs for workers, but for those with higher education, especially women over the age of 30, it can be difficult to find a job in their speci alty.
