Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky's foundation

6 (17) October 1740 during the wintering of the Second Kamchatka Expedition (1733-1743) by Russian navigators V. I. Bering and A. I. Chirikov on the site of Kamchadal village of Aushin, on the banks of the Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka peninsula was built Peter and Paul stockaded town, which gave rise to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The town was named after the expedition’s packet-boats "Saint Apostle Peter" and "Saint Apostle Paul".

Construction of the first Russian settlement of houses on the east coast of Avacha Bay began in June 1740 and was completed by the autumn of that year. The first constructor of the town was navigator Ivan Yelagin. When seafarer V. I. Bering and A. I. Chirikov came there in October 1740, they set up a base for the second Kamchatka expedition and built Peter and Paul harbor, which initiated the formation of the future city.

By the beginning of the 19th century the harbor became a major port in the Far East and the administrative and economic center of Kamchatka. In 1822 it received the rank of the city and became known as Peter and Paul Port, but until the beginning of 20th century the settlement was called Petropavlovsk. In 1849-1858 it was the center of the Kamchatka region. In 1850-1855 Petropavlovsk housed the only at the time naval base of Russia in the Pacific. In August 1854 during the Crimean War (1853-1856) garrison of the town under the leadership of the governor of Kamchatka Oblast General V. S. Zavoiko repelled an attack by the Anglo-French squadron. In 1909 Petropavlovsk became again the regional center. Since 1924 the city has been called Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Until 1922, Petropavlovsk was the county and regional center, then - the provincial and okrug center of Kamchatka. In 1930's Petropavlovsk significantly expanded its borders to include the new areas of industrial and residential development. During these years the urban population had markedly increased, along with economic activity, were built a ship repair yard, mechanical plant and other industrial facilities. By the early 1990s Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has reached its present limits. From 1932 to 2007 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk was the administrative center of Kamchatka, and from 1 July 2007 became the capital of Kamchatka Krai.

The history of Petropavlovsk was associated with many important events. In 1740-1742 the city was the base for the second Kamchatka expedition, and at the end of the 18th century - the base for the North East Geographical and Astronomical expedition by I. I. Billings – G. A. Sarychev. In 1779 in Avacha Bay stayed sloops "Resolution" and "Discovery" led by Charles Clarke of the English expedition by D. Cook. In 1787, Petropavlovsk harbor housed frigates "Boussol" and "Astrolabe" of the special French expedition under the command of J. F. La Perouse. To Petropavlovsk came the ships of famous Russian explorers and scientists: V. M. Golovnin, O. E. Kotzebue, G. S. Shishmarev, M. P. Lazarev, A. P. Lazarev, F. P. Wrangel, F. P. Litke, G. I. Nevelsky.

History of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is reflected in the monuments, plaques and street names. The surviving building of the early twentieth century together with the complex of historical and memorial headstones of 18th – 20th centuries have formed historical and landscape center of the city.

Today, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the industrial and cultural center of Kamchatka, which accounts for approx. 80% of industrial output of the region. 56.5% of the population of Kamchatka live in the regional center today.

 

Lit.: Витер И. В., Смышляев А. А. Город над Авачинской бухтой. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 2011; Маргаритов В. П. Камчатка и её обитатели. Хабаровск, 1899; Пирагис А. Петропавловск-Камчатский. Улицы города рассказывают. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 2000; Пирагис А. Правители Камчатки, 1700–2007. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 2008.

Администрация Петропавловск-Камчатского городского округа: сайт. 2004-2014. URL: http://pkgo.ru/.

 

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Kamchatka Territory: Pages of History: [digital collection].