Oral history

The history of Uralsk, one of the oldest cities in the territory of modern Kazakhstan, is closely intertwined with the history of the Cossacks and key events in the Russian Empire. The city has transformed from a free Cossack settlement into a significant administrative and cultural center.

Foundation and First Mentions

The official date of the city's foundation is considered to be 1613. Initially, it was established as a Cossack settlement and bore the name Yaitsky Gorodok (Yaitsk Town), named after the Yaik River on which it was situated. The founders were free Yaik Cossacks looking for a convenient location for their capital. The settlement quickly became the center of the Yaik Cossack Host — a semi-autonomous military community guarding the southeastern borders of the state.

Key Factors of Formation

Several factors contributed to the development of Yaitsky Gorodok:

• Geographical Location: The city was founded at the confluence of the Ural (then Yaik) and Chagan rivers, on a strategic trade route connecting Central Asia and the European part of Russia.
• Trade: Thanks to its location, the town became a major center of commerce. Livestock was driven here from the steppes, and leather, felt, and other goods were brought for sale.
• Political Role: Yaitsky Gorodok was not just a fortress, but the capital of an entire Cossack host, which enjoyed significant autonomy for a certain period.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The city's economy was built on fishing, cattle breeding, and trade. The harvesting of valuable fish species, particularly sturgeon, was of special importance. Cultural life was centered around Cossack traditions. A turning point in the city's history was the participation of the Yaik Cossacks in the Peasant War led by Yemelyan Pugachev (1773–1775). After the rebellion was suppressed in 1775, Empress Catherine II, seeking to eradicate the memory of the revolt, ordered the renaming of Yaitsky Gorodok to Uralsk, and the Yaik River to the Ural. This event marked the beginning of a new, "Ural" period in the city's history.

Key Dates in the History of Uralsk

1613 — Official date of the city's foundation as a Cossack settlement named Yaitsky Gorodok.

1772 — The first major uprising of the Yaik Cossacks breaks out, suppressed by government troops.

1773 — Yaitsky Gorodok becomes the center of the Peasant War led by Yemelyan Pugachev.

1775 — After the suppression of the rebellion, by decree of Catherine II, Yaitsky Gorodok is renamed Uralsk, and the Yaik River becomes the Ural.

1833 — Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin visits the city to collect materials for "The History of Pugachev" and "The Captain's Daughter".

1837 — The future Emperor Alexander II visits Uralsk, accompanied by the poet Vasily Zhukovsky.

1868 — Uralsk becomes the administrative center of the newly formed Ural Region (Oblast).

1891 — The city is visited by Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, the future Emperor Nicholas II.

1894 — The Ryazan-Ural railway line reaches Uralsk, giving a powerful boost to its economic development.

1900 — Construction of the Merchant Karev House, one of the city's most famous architectural monuments, is completed.

1920 — The Ural Region becomes part of the Kyrgyz (later Kazakh) ASSR.

1970-80s — A period of active development with modern multi-story buildings, changing the city's appearance.

Stages of Uralsk's Development: From Fortress to Oil and Gas Capital

The history of Uralsk is a vivid example of how a small Cossack town located on the border of Europe and Asia turned into an important industrial and cultural center. Key transformations in its economy, architecture, and social life have defined the modern look of the city.

• Status as a District and then Regional Center (19th Century). After receiving the status of the administrative center of the Ural Region in 1868, the city began to develop actively. This attracted officials, merchants, and intellectuals, which contributed to population growth and the appearance of the first stone buildings that formed the historical appearance of Uralsk.
• Construction of the Ryazan-Ural Railway (1894). The laying of the railway line became a powerful catalyst for economic growth. Uralsk turned into a major transport hub, through which lively trade in grain, fish, and livestock was conducted. This led to the flourishing of the merchant class and a construction boom at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
• "The Merchant Renaissance" (Late 19th – Early 20th Century). Thanks to the economic upturn caused by the railway, numerous architectural masterpieces appeared in the city. Wealthy merchants built luxurious mansions, revenue houses, and public buildings, many of which have survived to this day and are the hallmarks of Uralsk. During this period, a unique architectural style was formed, combining elements of Classicism, Art Nouveau, and Oriental motifs.
• Industrialization of the Soviet Period (1930–1970s). In the Soviet era, Uralsk became an important industrial city. New plants and factories were built, including machine-building and food industry enterprises. This led to significant city growth, the appearance of new residential micro-districts, and the development of social infrastructure.
• Discovery of the Karachaganak Field (1979). The discovery of one of the world's largest oil and gas condensate fields, Karachaganak, located near the city, became a defining event for the modern history of Uralsk. This turned the city into the service and logistics capital of the oil and gas industry of Western Kazakhstan.
• Modern Stage (since 1991). As a regional center of independent Kazakhstan, Uralsk continues its development, largely relying on the oil and gas sector. Housing construction is actively underway, the urban environment is being modernized, and new public spaces and cultural facilities are opening, making the city more comfortable for living and visiting.

The architectural appearance of Uralsk is a unique combination of eras and styles, reflecting its rich history. The city has gone from a wooden Cossack fortress to a prosperous merchant center, and then to a modern industrial city, with each stage leaving its mark on the urban fabric.

Cossack Period and Classicism (18th–19th Centuries)

Early Yaitsky Gorodok consisted predominantly of wooden structures typical of military settlements of that time. With the granting of city status and its transformation into an administrative center, the first stone buildings began to appear in Uralsk. In the 19th century, Classicism became the dominant style. It is characterized by strict, symmetrical forms, restrained decor, and monumentality. A vivid example of this period is the Michael the Archangel Cathedral — the oldest temple in the city, preserving features of late Classicism. Administrative buildings and houses of the nobility, such as the Ataman's House, were also built in this style. These structures laid the foundation for the regular layout of the historical center.

"Merchant Renaissance" and Eclecticism (Late 19th – Early 20th Century)

The true architectural flourishing of Uralsk occurred in the late 19th – early 20th century, when the city became a major trading center thanks to the construction of the railway. This period is called the "Merchant Renaissance". The leading style became Eclecticism, freely mixing elements of Classicism, Baroque, Russian style, and Art Nouveau. Merchants competed in the luxury of their mansions, which gave the city its most recognizable buildings.

• Merchant Karev's House — the city's calling card, built in 1900. It is a striking example of Eclecticism with elements of Pseudo-Russian style and Art Nouveau, distinguished by complex facade decor and asymmetrical composition.
• Merchant Vanyushin's House — before the construction of the Karev house, it was considered the tallest and most elegant building in the city, demonstrating the wealth and taste of its owners.
• Russo-Asian Bank Building (now the Regional Akimat) — a monumental structure combining features of Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism, emphasizing the financial power of the city at that time.

During this period, figured brickwork, forged elements, and rich stucco decor were actively used, which still defines the unique look of old Uralsk today.

Soviet Period and Modernity (20th–21st Centuries)

In the Soviet era, the architecture of Uralsk developed in line with union-wide trends. In the 1920s and 30s, buildings in the Constructivist style appeared, characterized by concise forms and functionality. Later, in the Stalinist era, the city was adorned with buildings in the style of Soviet Neoclassicism. However, the most large-scale changes occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when mass construction of standard multi-story residential buildings began, forming modern micro-districts. In the post-Soviet period, especially with the development of the oil and gas industry, new modern objects began to appear in Uralsk: shopping and entertainment centers, office buildings made of glass and concrete, and new residential complexes that coexist with historical heritage, creating a multi-layered and contrasting urban landscape.

Outstanding Personalities in the History of Uralsk

The history of Uralsk is inextricably linked with the names of many prominent figures who were born, lived, or left a noticeable mark on the life of the city. Their contributions span politics, literature, science, and military affairs, forming the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region.

• Yemelyan Pugachev (1742–1775) — a Don Cossack and leader of the largest peasant uprising in Russian history. Although he was not a native of the city, it was Yaitsky Gorodok (the old name of Uralsk) that became the center and starting point of his rebellion in 1773–1775, forever inscribing the city into the key pages of the history of the Russian Empire.
• Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837) — the great Russian poet who visited Uralsk in 1833. He came here to collect materials about the Pugachev rebellion, which formed the basis of his works "The History of Pugachev" and "The Captain's Daughter". The poet's visit was a significant cultural event for the city.
• Nikita Savichev (1820–1885) — a writer, poet, and ethnographer born in Uralsk. He was a chronicler of the life of the Ural Cossacks, and his works are considered a valuable source of information about the everyday life, traditions, and history of the region in the 19th century.
• Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800) — a distinguished Russian military commander. He was sent to the region to suppress Pugachev's uprising and it was in Uralsk that he conducted the first interrogations of the captured rebellion leader before sending him to Moscow.
• Zhuban Moldagaliev (1920–1988) — People's Writer of the Kazakh SSR and poet, born in the territory of the modern West Kazakhstan Region. His work is closely connected with his native land, and one of the streets in Uralsk bears his name.
• Kadyr Myrza Ali (1935–2011) — a famous Kazakh poet, writer, and People's Writer of Kazakhstan. A native of the region, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Uralsk, and one of the city's new micro-districts is named after him.
• Ivan Krylov (1769–1844) — the famous Russian fabulist. In his childhood, he spent several months in the fortress besieged by Pugachev's forces in Yaitsky Gorodok, where his father served as an officer in the garrison.