Chkalovsk, Russia

For other places with the same name, see Chkalovsk.

Chkalovsk (Russian: Чка́ловск) is a town in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Volga River, 95 kilometers (59 mi) northwest of Nizhny Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 12,368.^[3]

Chkalovsk Чкаловск
Town[1]
Monument to Valery Chkalov in front of the Palace of Culture and Sports
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Chkalovsk
Chkalovsk Location of Chkalovsk Show map of Russia Chkalovsk Chkalovsk (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast) Show map of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Coordinates: 56°46′N 43°14′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Nizhny Novgorod Oblast[2]
Known since	12th century
Town status since	1955
Elevation	100 m (300 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[3]
• Total	12,368
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	town of oblast significance of Chkalovsk[2]
• Capital of	town of oblast significance of Chkalovsk[1]
Municipal status
• Urban okrug	Chkalovsk Urban Okrug[4]
• Capital of	Chkalovsk Urban Okrug[4]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [5])
Postal code(s)[6]	606540, 606541, 606558
OKTMO ID	22755000001
Website	gorodchkalovsk.ru

Chkalovsk population

2010 Census	12,368[3]
2002 Census	13,856[7]
1989 Census	15,059[8]
1979 Census	14,581[9]

It was previously known as Vasilyeva Sloboda/Vasilyovo (until 1938). It was renamed after its most famous inhabitant, Valeri Chkalov, a test pilot awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union (1936).^[10]

History

Vasilyeva Sloboda in the early 20th century

It has been known since the 12th century as Vasilyeva Sloboda, named so in honor of its founder Prince Vasily Yuryevich, the son of Yury Dolgoruky.^{[citation needed]} For a long time the territory belonged to Prince Shuysky who eventually became Tsar Vasily Shuysky.

The famous Russian pilot Valery Chkalov was born in 1904 in Vasilyovo. In 1937, Vasilyovo was renamed Chkalovsk after him and in 1955 it was granted town status.^{[citation needed]} Most of the original village was flooded by the Gorky Reservoir after the construction of Gorky Hydroelectric Station in 1955.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with 228 rural localities, incorporated as the town of oblast significance of Chkalovsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[2] As a municipal division, the town of oblast significance of Chkalovsk is incorporated as Chkalovsk Urban Okrug.^[4]

Until May 2015, the town served as the administrative center of Chkalovsky District and, within the framework of administrative divisions, was incorporated within that district as a town of district significance.^[11] As a municipal division, it was incorporated as Chkalovsk Urban Settlement within Chkalovsky Municipal District.^[12]