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Shymkent

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Shymkent
Шымкент
Чимкент
CountryKazakhstan
ProvinceSouth Kazakhstan Province
Founded12th century
Government
 • Akim (mayor)Arman Zhetpisbayev
Area
 • Total300 km2 (100 sq mi)
Elevation
506 m (1,660 ft)
Population
 (2011)Estimation[1]
 • Total629,600
Time zoneUTC+6 (BTT)
Postal code
160000
One of the central districts (view from citadel of ancient city)
Historical region "Old City"(view from ancient city's citadel)
Night Shymkent

Shymkent (Kazakh: Шымкент / Şımkent, Uzbek: Чимкент / Chimkent), formerly known as Chimkent ([Чимкент] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), until 1993), is the capital city of South Kazakhstan Province, the most populated region in Kazakhstan. It is the third most populous city in Kazakhstan behind Almaty and Astana with a population of 629,600 (2011-02-01[1]). A major railroad junction on the Turkestan-Siberia Railway, the city is also a notable cultural centre, with an international airport. It is situated 690 km west of Almaty and 120 km to the north of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

History

Shymkent was founded in the 12th century[2] as a caravanserai to protect the Silk Road town of Sayram, 10 km to the east. Shymkent grew as a market center for trade between nomads and the settled people. It was destroyed several times: by Genghis Khan, soldiers from the southern Khanates, and by nomad attacks. Once part of the Khanate of Kokand, it became part of the Emirate of Bukhara in 1810 and was then annexed by the Russian Empire in 1864. It was renamed Chernyaev in 1914 and renamed Shymkent in 1924. Following the Russian conquest, Shymkent was a city of trade between nomadic Turks and sedentary Turks, and was famous for its kumis.[3]

During the delineation of the borders of the Soviet Union's Union Republics, Shymkent had a majority Uzbek population[4], but was assigned to Kazakhstan for political reasons. There was a gulag located near Shymkent, and many Russian-speaking people came to the area via imprisonment.[5]

The name Shymkent comes from two words: shym meaning "turf, and kent meaning "city". Shymkent (Kazakh) and Chimkent (Uzbek) have identical translations.

After Kazakhstan gained independence, the city was renamed Shymkent in 1993 as part of the government’s campaign to apply Kazakh names to cities. This created an ambiguity in the city's name in the Russian language. The formal spelling of Шымкент (Shymkent) as codified in Kazakhstan's Constitution goes against the Russian spelling rules of never having the letter "ы" follow the letter "ш". As a result, the new name Шымкент (Shymkent) is used only in Kazakhstan, while Russia and some other countries using Russian language keep using the original Uzbek spelling Чимкент (Chimkent).

Demographics

Ethnic composition of the city according to 1897 census:

  • total - 11 194
  • sart/uzbek 9 468 (84.58%)
  • Russians - 833 (7.44%)
  • kyrgyz-kaysak/ kara-kyrgyz - 451 (4.03%)

Economy

Formerly dominated by lead mining, industrial growth began in the 1930s. A lead smelter was opened in Shymkent in 1938[8], and the city also has industries producing refined zinc, processed karakul pelts, textiles, foodstuffs, and pharmaceuticals. Also, the city has a medium size refinery. Refinery is owned and operated by PetroKazakhstan.

Main sights

  • Ordabasy circle, site of Friday Mosque and MIG Memorial
  • Regional Studies and History Museum
  • Victory Park
  • Central Park
  • Museum of Repression
  • Afghan War Memorial
  • Arboretum
  • Nauryz/Navruz Holiday Celebrations over Spring Solstice
  • Al-Farabi Square
  • Mega Shopping Center

Sport

Sister Cities

City Country Year
Stevenage United Kingdom United Kingdom
İzmir Turkey Turkey
Adana Turkey Turkey
Mogilev Belarus Belarus
Grosseto Italy Italy
Pattaya Thailand Thailand
Khujand Tajikistan Tajikistan
  • View on cross of Tauke-khan avenue and bulevard Kunaev from shopping mall "Mega Center Shymkent"
    View on cross of Tauke-khan avenue and bulevard Kunaev from shopping mall "Mega Center Shymkent"
  • View on shopping mall in Shymkent, called ЦУМ in the Russian/Soviet style
    View on shopping mall in Shymkent, called ЦУМ in the Russian/Soviet style
  • Fountains near the Central Multipurpose Shop (ЦУМ)
    Fountains near the Central Multipurpose Shop (ЦУМ)
  • Al-Farabi st., the view to the local Medical Academy
    Al-Farabi st., the view to the local Medical Academy
  • Turkestan st. (улица Туркестанская)
    Turkestan st. (улица Туркестанская)
  • Mountains on the outskirts of Shymkent
    Mountains on the outskirts of Shymkent

References

  1. ^ a b Estimation 2011-02-01 (in rus.)
  2. ^ Peoples of central Asia. By Lawrence Krader. Published by Indiana University, 1971
  3. ^ Through Russian central Asia. By Stephen Graham. Published by The Macmillan Company, 1916
  4. ^ The new Central Asia: the creation of nations. By Olivier Roy. Published by I.B.Tauris, 2000. ISBN 1860642780
  5. ^ The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: an experiment in literary investigation. By Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, H. T. Willetts, Thomas P. Whitney. Published by Westview Press, 1997
  6. ^ http://www.brif.kz/eng/maps/south_kaz_region.php SOUTHERN - KAZAKHSTAN REGION
  7. ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/kazakhstan,0.pdf KAZAKHSTAN’S REGIONS
  8. ^ The USSR. By John C. Dewdney. Published by Dawson, 1976
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