Armavir (Armenian:Արմավիր[ɑɾmɑˈviɾ]), is a town and urban municipal community located in the west ofArmenia serving as the administrative centre ofArmavir Province. It was founded in 1931 by the government of theArmenian Soviet Socialist Republic. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town is 29,319, down from 46,900 as reported in the 1989 census. As of the 2022 census, the population of the town is 27,470.[1] Currently, the town has a population of 38,495 as per the 2023 official estimate.[4]
Founded in 1931 as Sardarapat, the town was known as Hoktemberyan (meaning thecity of October) between 1935 and 1995, named in honor of theOctober Revolution.
In 1992, the town was named Armavir by the government of independent Armenia, after the nearby ancient city ofArmavir, that was founded in the 8th century BC by KingArgishti I of Urartu, and became the capital of theKingdom of Armenia under theOrontid dynasty in 331 BC.
The area of ancient Armavir has been inhabited since the 6th millennium BC. Various obsidian instruments, bronze objects and pottery have been found from that period. Armenian accounts held the city to have founded by King Aramais, a grandson ofHayk, around 1980 BC.
During the first half of the 8th century BC, KingArgishti I ofUrartu built a fortress in the area and named itArgishtikhinili. In 331 BC, when Armenia under theOrontid dynasty asserted its independence from theAchaemenid Empire, Armavir was chosen as the capital of Armenia. Slabs of clay have been found from the Achaemenid period written in theElamite language concerning episodes of theGilgamesh epic. Various inscriptions inHellenistic Greek carved around the third century BC, have been found, including poetry fromHesiod, lines fromEuripides, a list ofMacedonian months, and names of Orontid Kings.
According to the 5th-century Armenian historianMovses Khorenatsi, Armavir was the first capital of the Kingdom of Armenia (although, from a geographical standpoint, the first capital of Armenia wasVan). Movses' history preserves a tradition that when KingValarsace the Parthian settled in Armavir (ca. 149 BC), he built a temple there and asked princeaspet (knight) Smbat of theBagratuni dynasty to give up his religion and worship idols. But Smbat refused to comply. Movses also relates that when KingTigranes II (whom he places on the throne from 90 to 36 BC), in order to take revenge on QueenCleopatra of Egypt, sent an expedition to Palestine, he carried a great number ofJews into captivity, and settled them in Armavir and in Vardges. Movses goes on to state that later Jews were transferred from Armavir toYervandashat, and under KingArtashes I, were again transferred into the new capitalArtashat. When KingSapor II ofPersia invaded Armenia (360–370), he led away from Artashat 30,000 Armenian and 9,000 Jewish families, the latter brought by King Tigranes fromJudea, and then completely destroyed the city.
During Antiquity, Armavir was taken by theSeleucids,Parthians,Roman Empire,Sassanids andByzantine Empire before it was taken over by the Arabs in 645.By the decision of the Soviet government, the settlement of Armavir was founded asSardarabat on 26 July 1931, only 8 km north of the ancient city ofArmavir, to become the regional centre of theHoktemberyan raion created earlier in 1930 (known asGhurdughuli raion until 1935). It was originally founded as a railway station connectingYerevan with Leninakan (Gyumri). The first major urban plan of the town was introduced by architectAlexander Tamanian.
In 1935, the name of the settlement was changed from Sardarabat toHoktemberyan in honor of the 1917October Revolution. At the beginning, it was home to Armenian families who migrated fromJavakheti, Shirak andZangezur. During the 1940s, many Yazidis and Kurds from the nearby villages have also settled in Hoktemberyan.[6] With the rapid development of the settlement as an industrial hub, Hoktemberyan was given the status of a town in 1947.
The population of the town was further increased in the 1950s and 1960s upon the arrival of repatriated Armenian families from Iran, Syria and Lebanon. In 1966, the Armavir branch of theYerevan Brandy Company was opened. In 1967, Hokberyan became a city of republican subordination.
Following the independence of Armenia in 1991, Hoktemberyan was renamed Armavir on 7 November 1995, to become the provincial centre of the newly formed Armavir Province, as per the 1995 administrative reforms of Armenia.
Modern-day Armavir occupies an area of 8.51 km2 within the fertileArarat plain, at a road distance of 47 km west of the capital Yerevan.
The territory around Armavir is among the most important regions of Ancient Armenia. The town is built 6 km northeast of the ancient city ofArgishtikhinili and 8 km north of historicArmavir. The region corresponds with the Aragatsotn canton of the ancientArmenian Kingdom.
Upon its foundation in 1931, the town was originally populated by Armenians fromJavakheti, Shirak and Zangezur. Later, Yazidis, Kurds and Assyrians from the nearby villages have also settled in Armavir. Many Armenians fromIran,Syria andLebanon were resettled in Armavir during the 1950s and 1960s, as part of the Armenian repatriation process.
The town's population reached its peak with around 47,000 during the final years of theSoviet Union. Following the independence of Armenia and the resulting economic crisis, it has drastically declined, showing 32,034 in the 2001 census, 29,319 in the 2011 census, and around 28,900 as per the 2016 official estimate.
The town's Saint Gregory of Narek Church was opened on 30 May 2014 and named after Saint Gregory of Narek.[8] Since its consecration in 2014, the church became the seat of theDiocese of Armavir of theArmenian Apostolic Church.[9]
The healthcare in the town is served by the Armavir Medical Center, with a capacity of 280 beds.
The territory of modern-day Armavir is surrounded with many archaeological sites that are considered major centers of ancient Armenian civilization, including the nearby settlements ofMetsamor, ancientArmavir, and ancientArgishtikhinili.
Currently, Armavir is served by a cultural center, commonly known as theRed Club. It is also home to a music school, a school of arts, five public libraries, and a theatrical group. There is a private zoological/botanical garden at the northeastern vicinity of the town.
In 2016, the town celebrated the 85th anniversary of its foundation, with the presence of delegates from the Russian cities ofArmavir andShakhty.[10]
The town of Armavir is founded on the basis of the train station operating since 1927, as a railway junction between Yerevan and Leninakan/Gyumri. The station was renovated in the 2000s. In November 2009, the station was provided with anelectric locomotive that connects Armavir with theAragatsavan station and northwestern Armenia.[11]
The town is also connected with Yerevan and central Armenia through the M-5 Motorway. The H-17 regional road connects Armavir with Gyumri and other parts of northern Armenia.
Since its foundation, Armavir has gradually developed as an important centre for industries, as well as services. The industry of the town is mainly based on food-processing and building materials production.
The cotton mill of Armavir opened in 1928 was the first industrial plant of the town. The Hoktemberyan Cannery, which opened in 1943, was among the largest food-processing plants in theSoviet Union. The Armavir branch of theYerevan Brandy Company has operated since 1966. The glass factory of Armavir is a major glass container producer for the entire republic. There is a water treatment facility in the eastern suburbs of the town.
As a provincial centre, Armavir is home to many branches of prominent banks currently operating in Armenia.
Armavir air base was built near the town during the early 20th century and became one of the largest jet pilot training centers for theSoviet Air Force.
As of 2015, Armavir has 10 public schools, 12 nurseries, 2 intermediate colleges, 3 sport schools, and a school for children with special needs. Armavir is also home to the Tigran Mets Sports and Military College.
The Armavir provincial medical centre is located in the town as well.
FC Armavir was the football club who represented the town during the Soviet years. It was founded in 1965 asFC Sevan Hoktemberyan. After the collapse of theSoviet Union, FC Armavir participated in the Armenian Leagues mainly throughout the 1990s. The club was dissolved in 2003 due to financial difficulties. The club used to play their home games at theJubilee Stadium which has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. In 1985, the stadium hosted one group match during theFIFA World Youth Championship hosted by theSoviet Union. Nowadays, it is serving the young teams of the Armavir football school.
In February 2017, theFootball Federation of Armenia has launched the construction of a football academy in Armavir. With an approximate cost of US$3 million, the construction is being jointly financed by theFFA,UEFA andFIFA. It is expected to be completed by October 2019.[12]
Martial arts includingjudo,muay thaisambo andtaekwondo are also popular in the town.[13] The Mayor's cup tournament of judo is annually held in Armavir.[14] The town's sport school was entirely renovated in 2007.[15]
^"Կրկնակի տոն' մարզկենտրոն Արմավիրում".armavir.mtad.am (in Armenian). Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, Republic of Armenia. 2016-10-01. Retrieved2020-07-02.
