The city is located where the Ural River turns from south to west and where theOr River comes in from the southeast (hence the name). It was part of theOrenburg Line of forts.
Orsk was founded (asOrenburg) in 1735 in the process of theRussian colonization of Bashkiria and the Southern Ural region.[9] The first settlement was founded by an expedition headed byIvan Kirilov as a military fortification at theMount Preobrazhenskaya on the left bank of the Yaik River (presently Ural River). Originally called Orenburg, its name was changed to Orsk in 1739. In 1743, the name ofOrenburg was transferred to the town which is now known under this name; it is located 250 kilometers (160 mi) west of Orsk. At its foundation it marked a southeastern projection of European Russia toward the steppes of Central Asia. It housed an exchange post and Russian customs that dealt with traders fromKazakhstan and Asia.[citation needed]
From 22 June 1847 to 11 May 1848, the fortress of Orsk was home of the exiledUkrainian poet and painterTaras Shevchenko. In 1861, the fortress was decommissioned and became a station of the OrenburgCossack army. In 1865, Orsk was granted the city status and became the uyezd center inOrenburg Governorate.[citation needed]
The city grew dramatically starting from the 1870s. The population was mainly occupied with trade in cattle and grain, reprocessing of agricultural products, and various arts and crafts. Many women were involved in the business of weaving famousOrenburg shawls. By 1913, the population of Orsk was over 21,000, and by 1917 there were eleven churches and minarets, and sixteen educational facilities of various types and levels. During theRussian Civil War, from 1918 to 1919, Orsk withstood a three-month-long blockade and then four times changed hands between warring sides.[citation needed]
In the 1930s, the construction of large industrial enterprises, which drew their resources from the mineral rich soils of the region, started. One of the most notable stones excavated within the Orsk city line in theMount Polkovnik isjasper. Orsk jasper is revered for its variety of natural designs and colors. All colors except for blue are represented in this stone.[citation needed]
Orsk is the most important industrial center of Orenburg Oblast. The main industries aremetallurgy,machine building,petroleum chemistry, food and light industries. The most important enterprises areYuzhuralnikel,Orsknefteorgsintez (theSAFMAR Orsk refinery) andYuzhuralmashzavod. Following thedissolution of the Soviet Union, chronic under-investment, sanctions and lack of reforms led to the loss of 50,000 jobs and 30 plants, Forbes.com reported.[citation needed]
A branch ofOrenburg State Institute of Management (OSIM) operates in the city. Other than that, there is one major institute in Orsk: Orsk' humanitary-technological institute. There are also a number of different schools and colleges, State Drama Theater, Museum of Local History, Laboratory of Archeological Studies, Children's Art Gallery, Children's Folk Theater "Blue Bird" and a municipal brass band.
Some of the landmarks of industrial Orsk are 40 archeological monuments including ancient settlements, mass and single grave sites. Those that have been excavated became famous in the scientific world. For instance, grave sites inKumak that date back to theBronze Age provide convincing evidence to the hypothesis of Eastern European roots of Indo-European peoples.[citation needed]
In the grave sites that date back to the earlyIron Age (7th–6th centuries BCE) left bySarmatian tribes scientists found many ancient items including a clay vessel bearing the name of the Persian rulerArtaxerxes I, the sixth such vessel found in the world.[citation needed]
Законодательное Собрание Оренбургской области. Закон №1370/276-IV-ОЗ от 11 июля 2007 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Оренбургской области», в ред. Закона №2826/783-V-ОЗ от 15 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Оренбургской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Оренбургской области"». Вступил в силу после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Южный Урал", №№134–135 (спецвыпуск №40 с документами Законодательного Собрания Оренбургской области), 21 июля 2007 г. (Legislative Assembly of Orenburg Oblast. Law #1370/276-IV-OZ of July 11, 2007On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Orenburg Oblast, as amended by the Law #2826/783-V-OZ of December 15, 2014On Amending the Law of Orenburg Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Orenburg Oblast". Effective as of after the official publication date.).
Законодательное Собрание Оренбургской области. Закон №2367/495-IV-ОЗ от 15 сентября 2008 г. «Об утверждении перечня муниципальных образований Оренбургской области и населённых пунктов, входящих в их состав», в ред. Закона №3322/917-V-ОЗ от 24 августа 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Оренбургской области "Об утверждении перечня муниципальных образований Оренбургской области и населённых пунктов, входящих в их состав"». Вступил в силу через 10 дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Бюллетень Законодательного Собрания Оренбургской области", 22 заседание, I часть, 29 августа 2008 г. (Legislative Assembly of Orenburg Oblast. Law #2367/495-IV-OZ of September 15, 2008On Adopting the Registry of the Municipal Formations of Orenburg Oblast and the Inhabited Localities They Comprise, as amended by the Law #3322/917-V-OZ of August 24, 2015On Amending the Law of Orenburg Oblast "On Adopting the Registry of the Municipal Formations of Orenburg Oblast and the Inhabited Localities They Comprise". Effective as of after 10 days following the official publication.).
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