Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway
The Volkhov River served as a major waterway, a part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, since medieval times. Chudovo was first mentioned as a village in 1539. By the 18th century, it developed into a big "selo" with a postal service station. The development of the district was further aided by the construction of the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway, which opened in 1851. The railway to Novgorod was completed in 1871. A match factory, two cement-making factories, and a number of porcelain factories were built later.