# Nura District

Nura District (Kazakh: Нұра ауданы, Nūra audany) is a district of Karaganda Region in central Kazakhstan. The administrative center of the district is the settlement of Nura. The district has a population of 22,569 as of 2019.

## Geography

The district is located in the Kazakh Uplands. Rivers Kulanotpes and Sonaly, and lakes Kerey, Kypshak, Kiyakty and Shoshkakol are located in the district.

## History

During the 1890s, a number of Ukrainians, Russians, and Germans began constructing settlements in the area, which was already home to approximately 330 villages of the native Kazakh people. On April 19, 1923, by order of the Kirghiz SSR, the Nurinsk Volost was created as part of the Akmola Uyezd. On March 10, 1932, the Nurinsk Volost joined the newly created Karagandy Oblast. Nura became the district's administrative center in 1928.
The 1930s saw a number of modernization programs implemented in the district, with electricity, telephones, and postal services being introduced. 16 schools were erected as part of a wider Soviet program to combat illiteracy known as likbez.
During World War II, over 3,000 people from the district fought in the war, and 1,083 died in battle. Two residents of the district were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union medal.
From 1954 to 1957, 7 state farms were created in the district as part of the Virgin Lands Program.

## Demographics

Nura has suffered considerable population decline in post-Soviet times, with population falling from 38,649 (1999 Census results), down to 26,150 (2009 Census results), to 22,569 as of 2019.

### Ethnic composition

Ethnic Groups of Nura District :
| Ethnic Group | Population (2019) | Percent of Total |
| Kazakhs | 15,250 | 67.57% |
| Russians | 3,901 | 17.28% |
| Ukrainians | 1,286 | 5.70% |
| Germans | 927 | 4.11% |
| Belarusians | 377 | 1.67% |
| Tatars | 305 | 1.35% |
| Chechens | 55 | 0.24% |
| Mordvins | 50 | 0.22% |
| Azeris | 49 | 0.22% |
| Moldovans | 45 | 0.20% |
| Chuvash | 44 | 0.19% |
| Bashkirs | 42 | 0.19% |
| Lithuanians | 42 | 0.19% |
| Poles | 41 | 0.18% |
| Koreans | 32 | 0.14% |
| Uzbeks | 11 | 0.05% |
| Greeks | 5 | 0.02% |
| Others | 107 | 0.47% |
| Total | 22,569 | 100.00% |

## Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions of the Nura District :
| Rural district/city | Population (2021) | Settlement(s) |
| Nura Rural Administration | 6626 | Nura |
| Kobetei Rural District | 1302 | Kobetei, Ondiris, Pervoe Maya |
| Ahmet Rural District | 1221 | Ahmet |
| Shubarkol Rural District | 1142 | Shubarkol |
| Kyzyltal Rural District | 1036 | Kertindi, Algabas |
| Tassuat Rural District | 994 | Kainar |
| Egindi Rural District | 993 | Egindi |
| Shahter Rural District | 983 | Shahterskoe |
| Baitugan Rural District | 938 | Baitugan, Zhanakurylys |
| Zarechnyi Rural District | 871 | Zarechnoe |
| Korganzhar Rural District | 801 | Karim Mynbaev |
| Industrialnyi Rural District | 696 | Tassuat |
| Muzbel Rural District | 647 | Muzbel |
| Barshin Rural District | 641 | Barshino, Bestamak |
| Akmeshit Rural District | 614 | Akmeshit, Kantai |
| Kenzharyk Rural District | 548 | Izendi, Kenzharyk, Toparkol |
| Karaoi Rural District | 511 | Karaoi |
| Zharaspai Rural District | 394 | Zharaspai |
| Karakoiyn Rural District | 381 | Zhanbobek, Akkolka |
| Kulanotpes Rural District | 336 | Kulanotpes, Aktubek, Nygman |
| Don Rural District | 304 | Kulanotpes |
| Saryozen Rural District | 202 | Tikenekti |
| Balyktykol Rural District | 192 | Balyktykol |
| Taldysai Rural District | 160 | Taldysai |
| Sonaly Rural District | 122 | Sonaly |

## Notable people

* Nikolai Alexeyevich Kuznetsov, Soviet aviator