Stavropol

**Stavropol** (; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Stavropol Krai, Russia. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 398,539.

It was known as _Voroshilovsk_ until January 12, 1943.

## History

Stavropol was founded on October 22, 1777 and given city status in 1785. It was a military camp in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The city was mostly settled by Don Cossacks with the goal of defending against invaders.

The city changed owners many times in the Russian Civil War. It was finally captured by the Red Army from the Volunteer Army of general Anton Denikin on February 29, 1920. The city was renamed _Voroshilovsk_ on May 5, 1935, after Kliment Voroshilov. The original name was restored in 1943. The city was used as a German airport for its _Luftwaffe_ in World War 2 while they occupied it. Stavropol was liberated by the Soviets in January of 1943.

Natural gas has been extracted near the city since 1946 and piped to Moscow.

## Economy

The economy of Stavropol mainly focuses on the making of cars, furniture, and construction equipment. It has a major airport, Shpakovskoye airport, as well as railway and highway connections to other Russian cities.

## Demographics

Stavropol's 2021 population is now estimated at 453,387. In 1950, the population of Stavropol was 108,353. Stavropol has grown by 3,293 since 2015, which is a 0.73% annual change.

## Climate

Stavropol has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: _Cfa_). It has short but cold winters and hot summers.

## Notable people

Well-known Russians who have visited or lived in Stavropol include: Generals Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800), Alexey Yermolov (1777–1861), and Nikolay Raevsky (1771—1829); the poets Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837) and Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841), who were in political disfavor, the surgeon Nikolay Pirogov (1810—1881), Alexander Griboyedov (1795–1829), Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), and the national poet of Ossetia, Kosta Khetagurov.

The first and only executive president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022), was born in Stavropol Krai and spent many years working in the city of Stavropol as the leader of the krai. Gorbachev's chief mentor, long-time friend, and the previous leader of the Soviet Union Yuri Andropov (1914–1984) was also born in Stavropol Krai.

Actor Lev Gorn (born 1971) star of _The Americans_ was born in Stavropol.

## Twin towns – sister cities

Stavropol is twinned with:
- Des Moines, United States
- Béziers, France
- Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Zhenjiang, China
- Changzhou, China

## References

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## Other websites

- Official website of Stavropol
- Pictures of Stavropol

## Infobox (russian inhabited locality)

- **en name**: Stavropol
- **ru name**: Ставрополь
- **image caption**: **Top**:View of downtown Kaskad Fantanov area, Stavropol Saint Andrew Cathedral, **Second**:Vladimir Lenin Statue and Stavropol Duma Building, **Third**: Stavropol Gosudarstvennyy historical Museum, Tiflis Gate, **Bottom**:Stavropol Intourist Hotel, Red Guard Soldier monument (all items left to right)
- **image flag**: Stavropol flag.svg
- **image coa**: Coat of Arms of Stavropol (2021).jpeg
- **anthem**: _none_
- **federal subject**: Stavropol Krai
- **adm inhabloc jur**: city of federal subject significance, city of krai significance of Stavropol
- **adm ctr of1**: Stavropol Krai
- **adm ctr of2**: city of krai significance of Stavropol
- **inhabloc cat**: City
- **urban okrug jur**: Stavropol Urban Okrug
- **mun admctr of1**: Stavropol Urban Okrug
- **leader title**: Head
- **leader name**: :ru:Ульянченко, Иван Иванович, Ivan Ulyanchenko
- **representative body**: City Duma
- **pop 2010census**: 398539
- **pop 2010census rank**: 47th
- **pop latest**: 425853
- **pop latest date**: January 2015
- **established date**: October 22, 1777
- **current cat date**: 1785
- **postal codes**: 355000–355013, 355016–355021, 355024–355026, 355028–355032, 355035, 355037, 355038, 355040–355042, 355044, 355045, 355047
- **dialing codes**: 8652
- **website**: http://ставрополь.рф
- **date**: December 2019


## Infobox (infobox)

- **title**: Stavropol population
- **label1**: Russian Census (2010), 2010 Census
- **data1**: 398,539
- **label2**: Russian Census (2002), 2002 Census
- **data2**: 354,867
- **label3**: Soviet Census (1989), 1989 Census
- **data3**: 318,298
- **label4**: Soviet Census (1979), 1979 Census
- **data4**: 258,233