Orsk

History

Orsk was founded in the process of the Russian colonization of the Southern Ural region. The first settlement was erected by an expedition headed by well-known geographer of 18th century Russia Ivan Kirillovich Kirilov as a military fortification on the mountain Preobrazhenskaya on the left bank of the Yaik River (presently Ural River). Originally called Orenburg, the Orsk fortress gave the Ural river the significance of the borderline of the Russian state. In 1739 the fortress was officially renamed to Orsk. It housed an exchange post and Russian customs that dealt with traders from Kazakhstan and Asia.
From June 22, 1847 to May 11, 1848 the Orsk fortress was the home of the exiled Ukrainian poet and painter Taras Shevchenko. In 1861 the fortress was decommissioned and became a station of the Orenburg Kazak army. In 1865 Orsk was granted city status and became the provincial center of the Orenburg region.
The city grew dramatically starting from the 1870s. The population was mainly occupied with trade in cattle and grain, reprocessing of agricultural products and various arts and crafts. Many women were involved in the business of weaving famous Orenburg shawls. By 1913 the population of Orsk was over 21,000 and by 1917 there were 11 churches and minarets, and 16 educational facilities of various types and levels. During the Civil War, from 1918 to 1919, Orsk withstood a 3 month long blockade and then four times changed hands between warring sides.
In the 1930s began the construction of large industrial enterprises that drew their resources from the mineral rich soils of the region. One of the most notable stones excavated within the Orsk city line in the mountain Polkovnik is jasper. Orsk jasper is revered for its variety of natural design and color. All colors except for blue are represented in this stone.

Industry

Orsk is the most important industrial center of the Orenburg Oblast. The main industries are: metallurgy, machine building, petroleum chemistry, food and light industries. Most important enterprises are Yuzhuralnikel, Orsknefteorgsintez and Yuzhuralmashzavod.

Culture

There are two major institutes in Orsk: pedagogical and industrial. There are also a number of different schools and colleges, State Drama Theater, Museum of Local history, Laboratory of Archeological Studies, Children’s Art Gallery, Children’s Folk Theater “Blue Bird,” municipal brass band.
Some of the peculiar landmarks of industrial Orsk are 40 archeological monuments including ancient settlements, mass and single grave sites. Those that have been excavated became famous in the scientific world. For instance, grave sites in Kumak, that date back to the Bronze Age provide convincing evidence to the hypothesis of Eastern European roots of Indo-European peoples.
In the grave sites that date back to the early Iron Age (VI – VII centuries B.C.) left by “savromatian” or “sormatian” tribes scientists found many ancient items including a clay vessel bearing the name of the Persian ruler Artakserks I, the sixth such vessel found in the world.

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