Bolhrad
Bolhrad
Болград | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Town hall of Bolhrad | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Oblast | Odessa Oblast |
| Raion | Bolhrad Raion |
| Founded | 1821 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 94 km2 (36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 15,499 |
| • Density | 164.6/km2 (426/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postcode district(s) | 68700—706 |
| Area code | +380-4846 |
Bolhrad ([Болград Bolhrad] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help); Bulgarian and [Болград Bolgrad] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help); Romanian: Bolgrad), sometimes known as Bolgrad, is a small city in Odessa Oblast (province) of southwestern Ukraine, in the historical region of Budjak. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion (district). Population: 15,499 (2015 est.)[1]
History
Bolhrad was founded in 1821 by Bulgarian settlers in Bessarabia, under the direction of General Ivan Inzov who is "revered" by Bolhrad residents as the "Founder of Our City."[2] Bolhrad became part of Moldavia from 1856 to 1859, Romania from 1859 to 1878, 1918 to 1940, and 1941 to 1944, before being incorporated into the USSR (in the territory of the Ukrainian SSR), and later independent Ukraine.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 14,280 | — |
| 1941 | 10,713 | −25.0% |
| 2001 | 17,353 | +62.0% |
| 2011 (est.) | 15,479 | −10.8% |
The surrounding Bolhradsky district is predominantly populated by ethnic Bulgarians (a majority of 61%). Bolhrad itself is inhabited by a large number of Bessarabian Bulgarians and is considered by locals to be the unofficial capital of the Bessarabian historic district of Budjak.
Economy
As of 1920, Bolhrad had a coal industry.[3]
Education
The Georgi Sava Rakovski Bolhrad High School founded in 1858 is the oldest high school of the Bulgarian National Revival.[4][5]
Notable residents
- Dimitar Grekov (1847–1901), Bulgarian politician
- Danail Nikolaev (1852–1942), Bulgarian general
- Georgi Todorov (1858–1934), Bulgarian general
- Mykola Shmatko (b. 1943), contemporary Ukrainian sculptor, professor and painter (not a native, but lived in Bolhrad)
- Petro Poroshenko (b. 1965), current President of Ukraine, entrepreneur, business oligarch
References
- ^ "Чисельність наявного населення України (Actual population of Ukraine)" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ^ Куемжи, Мария, Болградский Историко-Этнографический Музей (Bolhrad, Odes'ka Oblast, Ukraine; Фонд им. И.Н. Инзова, 2007)
- ^ Kaba, John (1919). Politico-economic Review of Basarabia. United States: American Relief Administration. p. 27.
- ^ Манолова, Надя; Красимира Табакова (2008). "150 години Болградска гимназия" (in Bulgarian). Държавна агенция за българите в чужбина. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Болградска гимназия „Свети свети Кирил и Методий"". Българска енциклопедия А-Я (in Bulgarian). БАН, Труд, Сирма. 2002. ISBN 954-8104-08-3. OCLC 163361648.