View source for Kostroma Oblast

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Kostroma Oblast
| native_name             = Костромская область
| native_name_lang        =
| settlement_type         = Oblast
| image_skyline           = Oblast-government-kostroma.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Oblast administrative building in [[Kostroma]]
| image_flag              = Flag of Kostroma oblast.gif
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = 
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Kostroma Oblast.png
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Kostroma in Russia.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = 
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| latd  = 58 |latm  = 33 |lats  =  |latNS  = N
| longd = 43 |longm = 41  |longs =  |longEW = E
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_type        = 
| coordinates_display     = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name        = {{RUS}}
 | subdivision_type1       = [[Federal subjects of RussiaFederal subject of Russia]]
 | subdivision_name1       = Kostroma Oblast
 | subdivision_type2       = [[Federal Districts of Russia|Federal District]]  
 | subdivision_name2       =[[Central Federal District|Central]]
 | subdivision_type3       = [[Economic Regions of Russia|Economic Region]]
 | subdivision_name3       = [[Central economic region|Central]]
 | subdivision_type4       = Administrative Center
 | subdivision_name4       = [[Kostroma]] 
| established_title       = Established
| established_date        = 13 August 1944
| founder                 = 
| parts_type = 
| parts_style = list
| p1 = 
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| seat_type               = 
| seat                    = 
| government_footnotes    = 
| government_type         = Legislature 
| governing_body          =[[Kostroma Oblast Duma|Oblast Duma]]
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            =[[Governor of Kostroma Oblast|Governor]]
| leader_name             = [[Sergei Konstantinovich Sitnikov]]
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 60100
| area_rank               = 47th
| area_land_km2           = 
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| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
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| population_total        = 667562
| population_as_of        = 2010
| population_rank         = 66th
| population_density_km2  = 
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| timezone1               = 
| utc_offset1             = 
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| website                 = [http://adm44.ru http://adm44.ru]
| footnotes               = 
}}

'''Kostroma Oblast''' ({{lang-ru|Костромска́я о́бласть}}, ''Kostromskaya oblast'') is a [[federal subjects of Russia|federal subject]] of [[Russia]] (an [[oblast]]). Its [[administrative center]] is the [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|city]] of [[Kostroma]]. Population: 667,562 ([[Russian Census (2010)|2010 Census]]).<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref>

Major historic towns include [[Kostroma]], [[Sharya]], [[Nerekhta]], [[Galich, Russia|Galich]], [[Soligalich]], and [[Makaryev]]. Textile industries have been developed there since the early 18th century. The oblast was detached from [[Yaroslavl Oblast]] in 1944.

The Governor of the oblast was [[Viktor Shershunov]] from 1997 until his death in a car crash on September&nbsp;20, 2007. From 2007 the Governor was [[Igor Slyunyayev]]. As of 2012, [[Sergey Sitnikov]] is the Governor.

==History==
From c.&nbsp;300&nbsp;CE the whole current area of Kostroma with exception the area east of River Unzha was part of historical Finno-Ugric peoples' lands, like the [[Merya]] people and their loose tribal confederation. There were at least 109 Merya settlements located in the area of which the most important below mentioned trading centers and important hill fortresses were later recorded by the Russians as the Russians founded towns in the late 9th to 12th centuries.

The oblast was formed on August&nbsp;13, 1944.

==Geography==
Kostroma Oblast borders [[Vologda Oblast]] (N), [[Kirov Oblast]] (E), [[Nizhny Novgorod Oblast]] (S), [[Ivanovo Oblast]] (W), and [[Yaroslavl Oblast]] (NW). The main rivers are the [[Volga River|Volga]] and the [[Kostroma River|Kostroma]]. Much of the area is covered by woods, making it one of the principal timber producing regions in Europe.

==Politics==
During the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period, the high authority in the oblast was shared between three persons: The first secretary of the Kostroma CPSU Committee (who in reality had the biggest authority), the chairman of the oblast Soviet (legislative power), and the Chairman of the oblast Executive Committee (executive power). Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Oblast administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected [[Regional parliaments of Russia|regional parliament]].

The Charter of Kostroma Oblast is the fundamental law of the region. The Legislative Assembly of Kostroma Oblast is the province's standing legislative (representative) body. The Legislative Assembly exercises its authority by passing laws, resolutions, and other legal acts and by supervising the implementation and observance of the laws and other legal acts passed by it. The highest executive body is the Oblast Government, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters of the province. The Oblast administration supports the activities of the Governor who is the highest official and acts as guarantor of the observance of the oblast Charter in accordance with the [[Constitution of Russia]].

==Administrative divisions==
The oblast includes 25 rayons (districts) and 2 urban okrugs (circles).

'''Urban Okrugs (Circles)'''

{| class="standard sortable"
! class="bright" |№
! class="unsortable" | Coat of Arms
! class="unsortable" | Name of<br />Urban okrug
! class="bright" | Area<br />(km²)
! class="bright" | Population<br />(2013).
! class="bright" | Population<br />Rank
|-
| align="center"| I
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Kostroma.png|40px]]
| [[Kostroma]]
| align="right"| 144.50
| align="right"| 271 445
| align="center"| 1
|-
| align="center"| II
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Bui (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Buy]]
| align="right"| 21.20
| align="right"| 24 796
| align="center"| 3
|-
| align="center"| III
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Galich (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Galich (Kostroma)|Galich]]
| align="right"| 16.50
| align="right"| 16 825
| align="center"| 5
|-
| align="center"| IV
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Manturovo (Kostroma oblast) coat fof arms.png|40px]]
| [[Manturovo]]
| align="right"| 16.00
| align="right"| 16 699
| align="center"| 6
|-
| align="center"| V
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Sharya (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Sharya]]
| align="right"| 25.30
| align="right"| 36 704
| align="center"| 2
|-
| align="center"| VI
| align="center"| [[File:Coat of Arms of Volgorechensk (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Volgocherensk]]
| align="right"| 18.00
| align="right"| 16 868
| align="center"| 4
|}

{{Kostroma Oblast Map}}

'''Rayons (Districts):'''

{| class="standard sortable"
! class="bright" |№
! class="unsortable" | Coat of Arms
! class="unsortable" | Name of rayon
! class="bright" | Area<br />(km²)
! class="bright" | Area<br />rank
! class="bright" | Population<br />'000 (2013)
! class="bright" | Population<br />rank
! class="unsortable" | Аdministrative<br />center
! class="bright" | Population
|-
| 1
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Antropovsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Antropovo Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Antropovo Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2470.0
| align="center" | 12
| align="right" | 6,655
| align="center" | 17
| [[Antropovo]]
| align="right" | 4,923
|-
| 2
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Bui rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Buy Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Buy Rayon]]
| align="right" | 3248.0
| align="center" | 6
| align="right" | 11,330
| align="center" | 8
| [[Buy]]
| align="right" |
|-
| 3
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Chukhloma (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Chukhloma Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Chukhloma Rayon]]
| align="right" | 3660.0
| align="center" | 3
| align="right" | 10,817
| align="center" | 9
| [[Chukhloma]]
| align="right" | 5,258
|-
| 4
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Galich rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Galich Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Galich Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2870.0
| align="center" | 8
| align="right" | 8,233
| align="center" | 13
| [[Galich (Kostroma)|Galich]]
| align="right" |
|-
| 5
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Kadyi (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Kadyi Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Kadyi Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2190.0
| align="center" | 14
| align="right" | 7,867
| align="center" | 15
| [[Kadyi]]
| align="right" | 3,542
|-
| 6
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Kologriv (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Kologriv Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Kologriv Rayon]]
| align="right" | 3520.0
| align="center" | 4
| align="right" | 6,070
| align="center" | 19
| [[Kologriv]]
| align="right" | 3,240
|-
| 7
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Kostroma rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Kostroma Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Kostroma Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2040,0
| align="center" | 17
| align="right" | 46,091
| align="center" | 1
| [[Kostroma]]
| align="right" |
|-
| 8
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Krasnoselsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Krasnoselsky Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Krasnoselsky Rayon]]
| align="right" | 950.0
| align="center" | 24
| align="right" | 18,272
| align="center" | 3
| [[Kransnoe-na-Volge]]
| align="right" | 7,854
|-
| 9
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Makariev (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Makaryev Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Makaryev Rayon]]
| align="right" | 4850.0
| align="center" | 1
| align="right" | 15,004
| align="center" | 4
| [[Makaryev]]
| align="right" | 7,025
|-
| 10
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Manturovo rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Manturovo Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Manturovo Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2667.0
| align="center" | 9
| align="right" | 4,586
| align="center" | 22
| [[Manturovo]]
| align="right" | 3,912
|-
| 11
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Mezhevskoi rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Mezha Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Mezha Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2178.0
| align="center" | 15
| align="right" | 4,199
| align="center" | 24
| [[Georgievskoye]]
| align="right" | 2,816
|-
| 12
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Nerekhta (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Nerekhta Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Nerekhta Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1142.9
| align="center" | 22
| align="right" | 33.697
| align="center" | 2
| [[Nerekhta]]
| align="right" | 22,138
|-
| 13
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Neya (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Neya Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Neya Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2650.0
| align="center" |10
| align="right" | 13,436
| align="center" | 5
| [[Neya]]
| align="right" | 9,377
|-
| 14
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Oktyabrsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Oktyabrsky Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Oktyabrsky Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1860.0
| align="center" | 19
| align="right" | 4,557
| align="center" | 23
| [[Bogovarovo]]
| align="right" | 2,700
|-
| 15
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Ostrovsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Ostrovskoye Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Ostrovskoye Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2446.0
| align="center" | 13
| align="right" | 11,991
| align="center" | 7
| [[Ostrovskoye]]
| align="right" | 5,243
|-
| 16
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Parfenyevo (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Parfenyevo Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Parfrenyevo Rayon]]
| align="right" |2500.0
| align="center" | 11
| align="right" | 6,139
| align="center" | 18
| [[Parfenyevo]]
| align="right" | 2,936
|-
| 17
| [[File:Coat of Arms Pavino (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Pavino Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Pavino Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1600.0
| align="center" | 20
| align="right" | 4,785
| align="center" | 21
| [[Pavino]]
| align="right" | 3,024
|-
| 18
| [[File:Coat of Arms Ponazyrevo (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Ponazyrevo Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Ponazyrevo Rayon]]
| align="right" | 2080.0
| align="center" | 16
| align="right" | 7.896
| align="center" | 14
| [[Ponazyrevo]]
| align="right" | 4,761
|-
| 19
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Pyshchugsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Pyshchug Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Pyshchug Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1930.0
| align="center" | 18
| align="right" | 4,949
| align="center" | 20
| [[Pyshchug]]
| align="right" | 3,311
|-
| 20
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Sharya rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Sharya Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Sharya Rayon]]
| align="right" | 4070,0
| align="center" | 2
| align="right" | 9,863
| align="center" | 10
| [[Sharya]]
| align="right" |
|-
| 21
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Soligalich (Kostroma oblast) (1779).png|40px]]
| [[Soligalich Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Soligalich Rayon]]
| align="right" | 3070.0
| align="center" | 7
| align="right" | 9,689
| align="center" | 11
| [[Soligalich]]
| align="right" | 6,144
|-
| 22
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Sudislavl rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Sudislavl Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Sudislavl Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1530.0
| align="center" | 21
| align="right" | 12,832
| align="center" | 6
| [[Sudislavl]]
| align="right" | 4,729
|-
| 23
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Susanino rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Susanino Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Susanino Rayon]]
| align="right" | 1050.0
| align="center" | 23
| align="right" | 7,316
| align="center" | 16
| [[Susanino]]
| align="right" | 3,254
|-
| 24
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Vokhomsky rayon (Kostroma oblast).png|40px]]
| [[Vokhma Rayon, Kostroma Oblast|Vokhma Rayon]]
| align="right" | 3400.0
| align="center" | 5
| align="right" | 9,375
| align="center" | 12
| [[Vokhma]]
| align="right" |4,795
|}

==Economy==
The main industrial sectors include the fuel, chemical and [[petrochemical]], forest, woodworking (lumber, plywood, [[chipboard]], [[fiberboard]], and [[furniture]]), pulp and paper, food (alcoholic [[beverage]]s and starch), light ([[linen]], [[hemp]], and [[jute fabrics]]; [[clothing]], [[shoes]], and knitted goods), building material, [[Electrical power industry|power]] and engineering [[excavator]]s, [[machine tools]], and equipment for the [[textile]], [[chemical]], [[food]], and woodworking industries.<ref name="Kostroma Region">[http://www.kommersant.com/t-48/r_5/n_391/Kostroma_Region/ Kostroma Region]</ref>

The [[jewelry]] trade began developing in Kostroma in the 19th century. [[Engraving]], silver niello (silver with black engraving), and ornaments with colored glass and enamel insets are some examples of the art. The largest center of the jewelry industry is the village of Krasnoe-on-Volga.

===Agriculture===
Agriculture is one of Kostroma Oblast's most important sectors. [[Rye]], [[wheat]], [[barley]], and [[oat]]s are grown here, and [[beekeeping]] and plant cultivation are expanding. Traditional [[flax]] cultivation and processing is reviving. However, agriculture in the region is mainly oriented towards livestock farming, e.g., [[beef]] and [[dairy cattle]], [[pig]]s, [[sheep]], and [[poultry]]. Agricultural land occupies 940,000 hectares in the Oblast, including 26,400 hectares allotted to individual [[farm]]s and 551,000 hectares of cropland.<ref name="Kostroma Region"/>

===Transport===
Oblast is bound to other [[Russia]]n regions by roads, railroads (6–7 hours from Moscow) and air routes. Kostroma Airport serves to let people fly regularly inside Oblast and unregularly to [[Moscow]].

==Demographics==
Population: 667,562 ([[Russian Census (2010)|2010 Census]]);<ref name="2010Census"/> {{ru-census|p2002=736,641|p1989=809,882}}

;2012
*Births: 8 484 (12.8 per 1000)
*Deaths: 10 583 (16.0 per 1000) <ref>http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2012/demo/edn12-12.htm</ref>

*'''Total fertility rate:'''
2009 - 1.65 | 2010 - 1.65 | 2011 - 1.71 |<ref>http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/ru/statistics/publications/catalog/doc_1137674209312</ref> 2012 - 1.82(e)

Ethnic composition (2010):<ref name="2010Census" />
*[[Russians]] - 96.6%
*[[Ukrainians]] - 0.9%
*Others - 2.5%
*23,194 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936 |title=Перепись-2010: русских становится больше |publisher=Perepis-2010.ru |date=2011-12-19 |accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Kostroma Oblast (2012)<ref name="ArenaAtlas">[http://sreda.org/arena Arena - Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia]. Sreda.org</ref><ref name="2012maps">[http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Survey Maps]. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. ''Retrieved 24-09-2012''.</ref>
|label1 = [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]]
|value1 = 53.8
|color1 = DarkOrchid
|label2 = Unaffiliated [[Christian]]
|value2 = 5
|color2 = MediumOrchid
|label3 = [[Rodnover]]
|value3 = 1
|color3 = YellowGreen
|label4 = Other [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]]
|value4 = 1
|color4 = Violet
|label5 = Spiritual but not religious
|value5 = 25
|color5 = Gray
|label6 = [[Atheism|Atheist]]
|value6 = 9
|color6 = DarkGray
|label7 = Other and undeclared
|value7 = 5.2
|color7 = DarkGray
}}
According to a 2012 official survey<ref name="ArenaAtlas"/> 53.8% of the population of Kostroma Oblast adheres to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], 5% are unaffiliated generic [[Christian]]s, 1% adheres to other [[Orthodox Church]]es, and 1% of the population adheres to [[Rodnovery|Slavic Rodnovery]] (Slavic Neopaganism). In addition, 25% of the population deems itself to be "[[spiritual but not religious]]", 9% is [[atheism|atheist]], and 5.2% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.<ref name="ArenaAtlas"/>

==See also==
*[[List of Chairmen of the Kostroma Oblast Duma]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{RussiaBasicLawRef|kos}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://kosinfo.ru/ Kostroma regional Internet magazine] {{ru icon}}

{{Subdivisions of Russia}}
{{Kostroma Oblast}}
[[Category:Kostroma Oblast| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1944]]