Omsk is the eighth most populous city in our country. It is a major transport hub through which the routes of navigation along the Irtysh River and the Trans-Siberian Railway pass. The history of the city of Omsk is of great interest, especially since the first traces of human presence on its territory date back to the 6th millennium BC.
Geographic location
Omsk is located in the southern part of the West Siberian Plain, at the confluence of the Om River with the Irtysh. The distance to Moscow in a straight line is 2242 km, and to the border with Kazakhstan - about 150 km. The city is located in the 4th time zone and covers an area of 572 sq. km.
Name
Experts are still arguing about whether or not the word "Omsk" is an abbreviation. The history of the name of the city is rather vague. There is a version that it consists of the first letters of the words in the phrase "Remote place of exile of convicts." However, most researchers see a connection with the name of the Om River. In favor of the second version is the fact that thisthe toponym appeared long before prisons for convicts appeared in Omsk.
Prehistory of Omsk
As already mentioned, the first people settled in these places in the Stone Age. This is evidenced by many artifacts found during archaeological excavations on the territory of the Omsk site. They were replaced in the Neolithic by representatives of another more advanced culture, who owned pottery, and later tribes who smelted bronze, the so-called Andronovites, settled there. Their burial grounds were discovered on the site where the Omsk fortress once stood, and on the territory of modern Museum Street. Then, 12 km from the mouth of the Om, the Irmenians founded a settlement that existed from about the 10th to the 8th century BC. e. The next inhabitants of these places were the Kulais, and later they were replaced by the Huns, who moved from Transbaikalia.
Foundation of the Omsk Fortress
At the end of the 16th century, the Oirat local population, with whom Russia had established diplomatic ties, asked to found a city on Omi to protect it from the raids of the Khotogoyt Khanate. However, in the 1620s and 1630s, the situation changed. In particular, the Oiravs, who became part of the Dzungar Khanate, themselves began to cause concern to the inhabitants of the Tara district. This was the reason that in 1627 the local governor sent messengers to the capital with a request to establish a prison at the mouth of the Om. Although everyone understood the need for such a step, circumstances for a long time prevented its implementation. Under Peter the Great under the leadership of Colonel IvanBuchholz was equipped with an expedition that built a fortress on Lake Yamyshevsky. Her appearance was hostilely perceived by the Dzungars, who besieged the Russian fort, and after the members of the expedition left it, they destroyed it to the ground. Nevertheless, Ivan Buchholz did not give up and, having gone to the mouth of the Om, he founded a new fortress there. Scientists believe that this event took place on May 4-5, 1716, according to the old style, which means that the date of the foundation of Omsk is May 16. Despite this, for several decades City Day has been celebrated on the first Sunday of August.
18th century
The main event of this period was the construction of a stone fortress in the 50s. Initially, this building was conceived as the most significant fortification in the east of the Russian Empire. Due to frequent fires, the city that arose around it was repeatedly rebuilt, often haphazardly. In 1785, by decree of Empress Catherine II, the coat of arms of the city of Omsk was approved, which is still used today with some changes.
19th century
The history of the city of Omsk from the very foundation is closely connected with exiles and convicts. In particular, the Decembrists N. Basargin, N. Chizhov, V. Steingel and many others were in exile there.
In the 19th century, Omsk became the administrative center of the first West Siberian Governor General, and after - the Steppe. In 1850-1854. the great Russian writer F. M. Dostoevsky was imprisoned in the local prison. He left invaluable evidence of life in the city at that period of its history, which can beread on the pages of the book "Notes from the House of the Dead".
In 1894-1895. The Trans-Siberian Railway passed through the city. This event had a huge impact on the development of Omsk. He turned it into a major transport hub in the south of Siberia, and trade and industry began to develop there.
Early 20th century
The emergence of industrial enterprises and large railway depots led to the formation of revolutionary circles. In 1905, Omsk residents took part in mass rallies in support of the capital's proletariat.
At the end of 1914, the construction of the Railway Administration began in the city with the help of Hungarian prisoners of war, and a few months later the Omsk water supply system was opened.
Revolutionary events in Petrograd quickly resonated with the workers of the city. New authorities and the Red Guard were immediately formed. At the same time, attempts to revolt were repeatedly made in the city, during which the streets of Omsk became places of fighting. One of the most difficult periods in the history of the city was the second half of 1918. Already in the middle of summer, Omsk was abandoned by the Bolsheviks, and the so-called Provisional Government settled there, which included A. V. Kolchak. Thus, during the Civil War, the city was the capital of White Russia.
During the Soviet period
In 1921, an event occurred that did not have the best effect on the development of the city: the functions of the administrative center of Siberia were transferred to Novonikolaevsk, which was later renamed Novosibirsk. The situation changed only after the war. In 1947Omsk was singled out as an administrative and economic independent center with its own special budget and classified as a city of republican subordination. The transformation of the city into a large industrial metropolis was also facilitated by the fact that during the years of the Second World War many industrial giants from the European part of the country were evacuated there. As a result, a synthetic rubber plant and an oil refinery were founded. Over time, the boundaries of the city gradually expanded, new streets of Omsk appeared: Herzen Bogdan, Khmelnitsky and others, as well as areas such as the town of Neftchilars.
History of the city of Omsk: 21st century
The beginning of the new millennium was marked by economic difficulties, the roots of which were in the so-called dashing nineties. However, the city has successfully overcome most of them and today shows positive development dynamics in many areas.
In 2002, the modern coat of arms of the city of Omsk was approved. As already mentioned, it resembles Catherine's, however, a frame in the form of golden oak branches, which are connected by an Alexander ribbon, has been added to the old coat of arms.
Now you know the history of the city of Omsk. Be sure to visit it and get acquainted with the many sights, among which there are objects under the protection of UNESCO.
