List of administrative and municipal divisions of Adygea

Republic of Adygea
Russia

Capital	Maykop
Administrative structure (as of 2007)
Administrative districts	7
Cities/towns	2
Urban‑type settlements	5
n/a
Rural localities	225
Municipal structure (as of 2007)
Municipal districts	7
Urban okrugs	2
Urban settlements	5
Rural settlements	46

Map of administrative divisions of Adygea

This is a list of the administrative, territorial, and municipal divisions of the Republic of Adygea, a federal subject of Russia.

Adygea, located at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, is an enclave within Krasnodar Krai. It was originally established as the Cherkess (Adyghe) Autonomous Oblast within the Russian SFSR for the Adyghe (Circassian) majority that lived in the area. Today, Adyghe people account for 24.2% of Adygea's population (118,115 people), while Russians account for the majority 64.5% (288,280 people).

History

Cherkess (Adyghe) Autonomous Oblast was established within the Russian SFSR on July 27, 1922. Within a month, on August 24, 1922, it was renamed "Adyghe (Cherkess) Autonomous Oblast", before becoming "Adyghe Autonomous Oblast" in July 1928.

Initially, the oblast consisted of three okrugs: Farssky, Psekupsky, and Shirvansky. As the territory it encompassed was wholly rural, it had no administrative center, so its government was located in nearby Krasnodar.

From August to September 1924, the okrugs were reorganized into five districts (raions) consisting of thirty-two selsoviets. A few weeks later, on October 17, 1924, the oblast's status was downgraded when it became subordinate to North Caucasus Krai rather than the Russian SFSR. When North Caucasus Krai was split on January 10, 1934, Adyghe Autonomous Oblast became subordinate to the newly-created Azov-Black Sea Krai.

During the 1930s, as part of the changing Soviet policy towards its ethnic territories, a decision was made to increase the proportion of ethnic Russians in the autonomous oblast. In 1936, the predominantly Russian city of Maykop and its surrounding territory (including the present-day Giaginsky District) became part of the oblast. Tuapse, a port on the Black Sea, was considered for the role of administrative center, but rejected as it would give the native population access to the sea. Instead, Maykop became the administrative center.

On September 13 1937, Azov-Black Sea Krai was split into Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast, and Adyghe Autonomous Oblast became a subdivision of the former. Maykopsky District was formed on February 21, 1940, to which Tulsky District of Krasnodar Krai was added on April 28, 1962. Since then, Adygea's borders have remained unchanged.

On June 28, 1991, a few months before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the autonomous oblast declared its sovereignty and separated from Krasnodar Krai. It was subsequently recognized as the Republic of Adygea within the Russian SFSR and retained its status of a republic within the Russian Federation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.

Between 2004 and 2006, an attempt was made to merge the Republic with Krasnodar Krai, but the proposal met with strong resistance from the native Adyghe population. It is still possible, however, that a referendum in Adygea and Krasnodar Krai may be held as regards future unification.

Administrative division structure

Administrative divisions of Adygea
• Districts
• Inhabited localities Urban localities City / towns City / town under       the Republic's jurisdiction Town under a district's jurisdiction Urban-type settlements Work settlement Suburban (dacha) settlement Resort settlement Rural localities Auls Khutors Selos Settlements Stanitsas

Local governments may amend internal administrative arrangements, while changes in the administrative and territorial structure of the Republic are authorized by the State Council (Khase).

The modern administrative and territorial division of Adygea is regulated by Law #171, passed by the State Council on April 26, 2000 and subsequently amended. The Law established the administrative units described below.

Districts

A district (raion; район) is an administrative and a territorial unit with an administrative center (usually the district's largest settlement). Districts govern the urban and rural localities (see below) located in their territories, but not the cities/towns directly under the Republic's jurisdiction.

Inhabited localities

"Inhabited localities" (населённые пункты) comprise "urban localities" and "rural localities".

Urban localities

The different types of "urban localities" (городские населённые пункты) are urban areas whose populations exceed the thresholds given below:

City/town

A "city/town" (город; see notes about terminology) is a type of urban locality. Two types of cities/towns exist:

• The status of a city/town under the Republic's jurisdiction (город республиканского значения) can be granted to a city/town that:

has a population exceeding fifteen thousand;

has developed industries;

may be regarded as an economic and cultural center.

Whether or not a candidate city/town qualifies as an economic and cultural center with developed industries is discussed and decided individually in each case. Inhabited localities with populations of less than fifteen thousand can be granted the status of a "town under the Republic's jurisdiction" when they can demonstrate playing an important industrial, social, cultural, or historical role and have the potential for further growth.

• The status of a town under a district's jurisdiction (город районного значения) can be granted to a town that:

has a population of at least twelve thousand;

has no less than 85% of its population consisting of blue and white-collar families;

may be regarded as an industrial and cultural center.

As of 2007, no towns within the Republic enjoy this status.

Urban-type settlement

An "urban-type settlement" (посёлок городского типа) is another type of urban locality. Three forms of urban-type settlements are recognized:

• Work settlement (рабочий посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality that:

has a population of at least three thousand;

has no less than 85% of its population consisting of blue and white-collar families;

has industrial enterprises, railroad junctions, water-control structures, facilities for processing agricultural products, educational or research establishments, or other objects of economic importance located within its territory.

In cases where the potential for further economic and social development and population growth can be demonstrated, inhabited localities with populations of less than three thousand may be granted work settlement status.

• Suburban (dacha) settlement (дачный посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality whose main purpose is to provide sanatory or summer recreation facilities to visiting populations. A suburban settlement is not defined by population level and retains its status even if most of its population become permanent residents. As of 2007, no urban-type settlements within the Republic enjoy this status.
• Resort settlement (курортный посёлок) status can be granted to an inhabited locality that:

has a population of at least two thousand;

has no less than half its population consisting of visitors arriving for medical treatment or recreation;

is located in an area whose primary purpose is sanatory.

As of 2007, no urban-type settlements within the Republic enjoy this status.

Rural localities

Source: 

"Rural localities" (сельские населённые пункты) are localities whose populations are mostly employed in agriculture. The different types described below each have their own histories, but all at present are regarded as equal in status.

Auls

Historically, auls (аул, plural аулы) were a Circassian type of rural locality. Many of the present-day auls were founded during 1850 to 1925, when the Adyghe people were subject to mass deportations as a consequence of the Caucasian War of 1817–1864. These auls tend to be located in mountainous or otherwise difficult-to-access terrains, while most of those established after the Caucasian War are found on the plains beside the Caucasus Mountains.

As of 2007, there are forty-one auls in Adygea, mostly located in the western, northern and north-eastern parts of the Republic. The majority lie along the left banks of the Kuban and Laba Rivers, and along the southern shores of Krasnodar Reservoir. Each typically has a population between two and five thousand, averaging 1,620. Together they account for 18.2% of Adygea's rural localities and 31% of the rural population.

Khutors

Khutors (хутор, plural хутора) are a smaller type of rural locality. Typically, those that appeared before 1900 were established by landowners, while those created during the first half of the twentieth century encompassed public land.

As of 2007, there are 102 khutors in Adygea, mostly found in three areas: to the north of Maykop; in the north-east, along the Laba River; and in the predominantly aul zone in the western part of the Republic. Each usually has a population of between one and five hundred, although some exceed one thousand. Together they account for 45.3% of Adygea's rural localities, but only for 15% of the rural population. In 1926, the populations in 4% of khutors exceeded five hundred; by 2000, this had risen to 18%.

Selos

Historically, selos (село, plural сёла) were a type of Russian rural locality, consisting of a large village with a church. Most selos in Adygea were established in the second half of the 19th century on lands abandoned by the Circassians.

As of 2007, there are nineteen selos in Adygea, most commonly found between the eastern shore of Krasnodar Reservoir and the left bank of the Laba River (near its source). Each typically has a population between two and four thousand, averaging 1,600. Together they account for 8.4% of Adygea's rural localities and 15% of its rural population.

Settlements

Settlements (посёлок, plural посёлки) were a type of rural locality that first appeared during the Soviet times. Most were established by migrant peasants from outside of Adygea, although some also resulted from migration within the Republic. Today, they are most common in the Belaya River valley near the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains.

As of 2007, there are fifty-one settlements in Adygea, accounting for 22.7% of the Republic's rural localities and for about 15% of its rural population. The population of a typical settlement lies between one and two thousand, averaging 750. Although in existence for less than a century, the settlements' combined population is now almost equal to that of the khutors.

Stanitsas

Originally, stanitsas (станица, plural станицы) were fortified Russian Cossack outposts during the Caucasian War. After 1861, the stanitsas also started to appear in sparsely populated areas.

During Soviet times, stanitsas, no longer being Cossack settlements, still encompassed relatively large populations. In 1926, for example, the populations of five of the sixteen stanitsas then existing exceeded five thousand. As of 2007, there are twelve stanitsas in Adygea, accounting for 5.3% of the Republic's rural localities, but their combined population accounts for almost a quarter of the Republic's rural population. They are fairly evenly spread across the Republic's territory.

Numbers of rural localities by year

Year	Auls	Khutors	Selos	Settlements	Stanitsas	Total
1897	50	217	16	2	15	300
1926	50	283	15	1	15	369
1939	52	268	17	15	14	366
1959	46	183	21	99	12	361
1979	39	111	19	63	11	243
2002	40	100	20	50	12	222
2007	41	102	19	51	12	225
Sources:  1897–2002:   2007:

Municipal division structure

Main article: Subdivisions of Russia § Municipal divisions

Local government is established on the whole territory of the Republic of Adygea. The units of local government are:

• municipal districts;
• municipal urban okrugs;
• municipal urban settlements;
• municipal rural settlements.

Municipal divisions are formed on the basis of existing administrative divisions. Municipal districts are formed within boundaries of administrative districts, municipal urban okrugs cover the territories subordinated to the cities/towns under Republic's jurisdiction, and municipal urban settlements cover the territories subordinated to urban-type settlements.

List of administrative and municipal divisions

Cities and towns under Republic's jurisdiction

Maykop

Maykop (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) is a city located on the right bank of the Belaya River. It serves as the capital of the Republic and is mostly surrounded by Maykopsky District, although it is administratively and municipally separate from it. Its population in 2002 was recorded as 156,931.

Municipally, Maykop is incorporated as the municipal urban okrug of the city of Maykop (городской округ "Город Майкоп"), which covers the territory of the city of Maykop, as well as the territories of eight rural localities in its jurisdiction.

Adygeysk

Adygeysk (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) is a town located near Krasnodar Reservoir. It is surrounded by Teuchezhsky District, although it is administratively and municipally separate from it. Its population in 2002 was recorded as 12,209.

Municipally, Adygeysk is incorporated as the municipal urban okrug of the town of Adygeysk (городской округ "Город Адыгейск"), which covers the territory of the town of Adygeysk, as well as the territories of two rural localities in its jurisdiction.

Districts

Giaginsky District

Giaginsky District

Giaginsky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) lies in the central northern portion of Adygea.

• Established in 1936
• Administrative center is Giaginskaya, a stanitsa
• Population: 33,458

Municipally, the district is divided into five rural settlements comprising thirty rural localities.

Koshekhablsky District

Koshekhablsky District

Koshekhablsky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) lies in the eastern portion of Adygea.

• Established on December 31, 1934
• Administrative center is Koshekhabl, an aul
• Population: 31,296

Municipally, the district is divided into nine rural settlements comprising twenty-four rural localities.

Krasnogvardeysky District

Krasnogvardeysky District

Krasnogvardeysky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) occupies the north-western portion of Adygea.

• Established on September 2, 1924
• Administrative center is Krasnogvardeyskoye, a selo
• Population: 31,536

Municipally, the district is divided into seven rural settlements comprising twenty-five rural localities.

Maykopsky District

Maykopsky District

Maykopsky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) occupies the southern portion of Adygea.

• Established on April 28, 1962
• Administrative center is Tulsky, an urban-type settlement
• Population: 58,485

Municipally, the district is divided into two urban settlements comprising two urban-type settlements (Tulsky and Kamennomostsky; with three rural localities in their jurisdictions) and into eight rural settlements comprising fifty rural localities. One rural locality that has not been assigned to any municipal division as of 2007, is governed directly by the district's government.

Shovgenovsky District

Shovgenovsky District

Shovgenovsky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) lies in the central northern portion of Adygea.

• Established on January 12, 1965
• Aadministrative center is Khakurinokhabl, an aul
• Population: 16,388

Municipally, the district is divided into six rural settlements comprising thirty-one rural localities.

Takhtamukaysky District

Takhtamukaysky District

Takhtamukaysky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) occupies the westernmost portion of Adygea.

• Established on April 25, 1983
• Administrative center is Takhtamukay, an aul
• Population: 65,674

Municipally, the divided into two urban settlements comprising two urban-type settlements (Enem and Yablonovsky; with six rural localities in their jurisdictions) and into five rural settlements comprising twenty-five rural localities.

Teuchezhsky District

Teuchezhsky District

Teuchezhsky District (Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-ady) lies in the western portion of Adygea.

• Established on August 5, 1924
• Administrative center is Ponezhukay, an aul
• Population: 19,951

Municipally, the district is divided into one urban settlement comprising one urban-type settlement (Tlyustenkhabl; with one rural locality in its jurisdiction) and into six rural settlements comprising twenty-six rural localities.