Stary Oskol

Stary Oskol () is a city in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located 618 kilometers (384 south of Moscow, on the Oskol River. Population: 221,085 (2010 Census);  

 History 
It was founded in 1593Charter of Starooskolsky Urban Okrug as a fortress, a part of the southern fortification line around Moscow. In the 17th century, the town was sacked by Crimean Tatars. Later it was affected by the Russian Civil War in 1919, as well as by World War II, where it was captured by Hungarian troops. After World War II, industry developed in the city and its population started to grow.

 Administrative and municipal status 
Within the framework of administrative divisions, Stary Oskol serves as the administrative center of Starooskolsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the town of oblast significance of Stary Oskol—an administrative unit with a status equal to that of the districts.Law #248 As a municipal division, the territories of the city of oblast significance of Stary Oskol and of Starooskolsky District are incorporated as Starooskolsky Urban Okrug.Law #159

 Economy 
Stary Oskol is an important center of iron ore mining, situated at the border of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, one of the largest deposits of iron ore worldwide. Over eight million tons of iron ore are mined here per year. For this reason there is also a branch of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys in the city.

 Education 
One of the oldest kids music schools in the city is located in the city center, on Lenina Street.

 Notable people 

 Alexander Emelianenko, mixed martial artist
 Fedor Emelianenko, mixed martial artist
 Denis Lebedev, boxer
 Kirill Sidelnikov, mixed martial artist

 International relations 

 Twin towns and sister cities 
Stary Oskol is twinned with:

  Salzgitter, Germany (1987)
  Asenovgrad, Bulgaria (1989)
  Mänttä, Finland (1989)

 References 

 Notes 

 Other websites 

 Stary Oskol on mojgorod.ru 
 Twin towns of Stary Oskol  

Category:Cities and towns in Belgorod Oblast