Penza oblast, Russia (Penzenskaya)

The capital city of Penza oblast: Penza.

Penza oblast overview

Penza oblast (also spelled Penzenskaya) is occupied mainly by Privolzhskaya (Volga) highland. The region is located in Volga Federal District. Administrative center and capital city is Penza.

Penza oblast population is about 1,390,000 (2009); land area - 43,200 sq. km.

Penza oblast flag

Penza oblast coat of arms

Penza oblast map, Russia

Penza oblast people

There are many ethnic groups, nationalities and immigrants that live in Penza region of Russia. Among them are representatives of Slavic, Finno-Ugric and Turkish people. Russians make up about 86% of the population, though, about 70 other nationalities also live here, among them Tatars, Mordovians, Chuvashans, Ukrainians, Belorussians.

The largest cities are Penza (508,000), Kuznetsk (88,000), Zarechny (62,000), Kamenka (39,000), Serdobsk (35,000) and Nizhny Lomov (23,000). Penza oblast is divided into 28 districts, 5 towns of regional submission, 5 towns of district submission, 16 town settlements, 359 villages.

Penza oblast economy

Penza oblast offers particular opportunities for investment in the following sectors: food processing and packaging, consumer products, automotive components, general engineering and machine building, medical equipment and pharmaceutical industries, textile machines, watches, gas and liquid tanks and gas station production distribution.

Penza oblast history

In the 15th century Russians settled in extensive spaces of Prisurje, increasing in number through the 16th century. After the conquest of Kazan by Ivan Grozny and the fall of Kazan Khanate in 1552 Penza region was incorporated into the Russian state.

In the middle of the 17th century Russian discoverers of unknown lands approached the river Penza where it runs into the river Sura. Here by a decree from Tzar Aleksey Mikhailovich the town of Penza was founded in 1663. Penza region was founded in 1939. It was a part of Tambov region since 1937 to 1939.