 chelyabinsk oblast (, chelyabinskaya oblast) is a federal subject (an oblast) of russia in the ural mountains region, on the border of europe and asia.http://www.investinrussia.biz/city/chelyabinsk-city/investing-chelyabinsk-cityhttp://www.rotobo.or.jp/events/forum/presentation/2-4-05murzina.pdfhttp://www.investinural.com/en/chelyabinsk.htmlhttp://econom-chelreg.ru/files/chelreginipwc.pdf its administrative center is the city of chelyabinsk. population: 3,476,217 (2010 census). ==history== during the middle ages south ural was populated by bashkir tribes that were a part of the golden horde, nogai horde and smaller bashkir unions. since the late 16th century the area was incorporated into the tsardom of russia. russian colonization of chelybinsk oblast started only in the 18th century with the establishment of a system of fortresses and trade posts on then russian border under the authority of the orenburg expedition (created in 1734). many cities of chelyabinsk oblast including the city of chelyabinsk itself trace their history back to those forts. 
Chelyabinsk_Oblast States_and_territories_established_in_1934