# Krasnodar

> capital of Krasnodar region (Krai) in Southern Russia

**Wikidata**: [Q3646](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3646)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krasnodar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/krasnodar

## Summary
Krasnodar is the capital city of Krasnodar Krai, a federal subject of Russia located in the Southern Federal District. Founded in 1793 as the fortress of Yekaterinodar by the Black Sea Cossack Host, it serves as the primary administrative, economic, and cultural center for the Kuban region.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Krasnodar (Russian: Краснодар), renamed from Yekaterinodar on December 7, 1920.
- **Founding:** Established in 1793 by the Black Sea Cossack Host.
- **Area:** 339.31 square kilometers.
- **Coordinates:** 45.0333°N latitude, 38.9833°E longitude.
- **Elevation:** 25 meters above sea level.
- **Population (2025):** 1,154,885 (preferred value, demographic balance estimation).
- **Status:** Capital of Krasnodar Krai since September 13, 1937; also the center of Krasnodar Municipality.
- **Historical Capitals:** Served as the capital for multiple preceding entities including the Kuban People's Republic (1918-1920), South Russia (1919-1920), and Kuban Oblast (1860-1918).
- **Time Zone:** Moscow Time (UTC+03:00).
- **Postal Codes:** 350000–350999.
- **Local Dialing Code:** 861.
- **Official Website:** https://krd.ru/ (available in Russian and English).
- **Current Head of Government:** Mayor Evgeny Naumov (in office since November 9, 2022).
- **Legislative Body:** Krasnodar City Duma.
- **Nicknames:** "Capital of the South" and "Southern capital."
- **Historical Region:** Part of the traditional Kuban region.
- **Located on:** The Kuban River.
- **Inception Date:** 1793.
- **Instance Of:** Classified as a city or town, a large city, a "million city" (since 2018), a capital city, and historically a fortress (1793-1867).
- **UN/LOCODE:** RUKRR.

## FAQs
**What is the historical significance of Krasnodar's name?**
The city was founded as Yekaterinodar ("Catherine's gift") in 1793, named in honor of Catherine II of Russia. It was renamed Krasnodar ("beautiful gift") on December 7, 1920, following the Bolshevik revolution, a name it retains today. It was also known historically as Ekaterinodar and Katerynodar.

**How has Krasnodar's population grown in recent years?**
Krasnodar's population has shown consistent growth, from 853,848 in 2016 to 1,154,885 by the 2025 estimate. It crossed the one-million threshold around 2018, solidifying its status as a "million city" and one of Russia's largest urban centers.

**What are the primary administrative roles of Krasnodar?**
Krasnodar is the capital of Krasnodar Krai, a first-level administrative division of Russia, a role it has held since September 13, 1937. It is also the administrative center of the Krasnodar Municipality, a status formalized on September 14, 2003.

**What bodies of water and physical features is Krasnodar associated with?**
The city is directly located on the Kuban River. Historically and administratively, it has been part of regions defined by the Kuban area, including the Kuban Oblast, Kuban Okrug, and the broader historical region of Kuban.

**What international partnerships does Krasnodar maintain?**
Krasnodar has a network of twin cities and sister-city relationships, including Karlsruhe, Germany (1998-2022); Harbin, China (2008-); Ferrara, Italy (1965-); Tallahassee, USA (1984-); Burgas, Bulgaria (1974-); Nancy, France (2017-); Wels, Austria (2018-); Sukhumi, Abkhazia (2012-); Larnaca, Cyprus (2019-); and Yerevan, Armenia (2014-).

**What are the main ways to access official information about Krasnodar?**
The city's primary official website is https://krd.ru/, available in Russian and English. It maintains verified social media presences on platforms including Twitter (@krdru in Russian, @enkrd in English), Instagram (@krdru), VKontakte (krdru), and YouTube (krasnodaradm).

## Why It Matters
Krasnodar is a critical economic and transportation hub for Southern Russia and the North Caucasus, often called the "Capital of the South." Its strategic location on the Kuban River and within the fertile Kuban region has made it a historical center for Cossack culture, agriculture, and later industrial development. The city's sustained population growth and status as a "million city" underscore its role as a major magnet for internal migration and economic activity within Russia. It represents a key administrative node, having served as the capital for numerous historical political entities in the region, from the Kuban People's Republic to the modern Krasnodar Krai. Its extensive international twinning program highlights its role in fostering municipal diplomacy. Culturally, it is a repository of Kuban Cossack heritage and a modern metropolitan center with significant infrastructure, educational institutions, and cultural monuments.

## Notable For
- **Historical Cossack Capital:** Founded as a Cossack fortress and served as the capital of the Kuban People's Republic (1918-1920) and other short-lived post-Imperial states.
- **Rapid Demographic Growth:** Transformed from a regional center into a "million city" (population over 1 million) by approximately 2018, with continued growth to over 1.15 million by 2025.
- **Administrative Continuity:** Has served as the capital of its primary region (in various administrative forms) for over 160 years, since the Kuban Oblast era.
- **"Capital of the South":** Its widely used nickname reflects its dominant economic and cultural status in Southern Russia.
- **Extensive International Ties:** Maintains a diverse network of over ten twin city relationships spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
- **Geographic Gateway:** Serves as a key urban center on the Kuban River, in the heart of the agriculturally rich Kuban plain.
- **Longevity:** Has existed as a planned settlement since 1793, witnessing and participating in major Russian and regional historical transformations.

## Body

### History and Naming
Krasnodar was founded in 1793 as the fortress of **Yekaterinodar** by the **Black Sea Cossack Host**. It was named after **Catherine II of Russia**. The city's official name was **Yekaterinodar** from its inception until December 6, 1920. On December 7, 1920, it was renamed **Krasnodar**. It has been known by numerous historical aliases and transliterations, including **Ekaterinodar**, **Katerynodar**, **Екатеринодар**, and **Катеринодар**. For a brief period in 1793, it was also referred to as **Nova Sich**.

The city has served as the capital for a sequence of administrative entities:
*   **Yekaterinodarsky Otdel** (1869-1924)
*   **Kuban Oblast** (1860-1918)
*   **Kuban People's Republic** (1918-1920)
*   **South Russia** (1919-1920)
*   **Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic** (1918)
*   **North Caucasian Soviet Republic** (1918)
*   **Kuban-Black Sea Oblast** (1920-1924)
*   **Kuban Okrug** (1924-1930)
*   **North Caucasus Krai** (1930-1934)
*   **Azov-Black Sea Krai** (1934-1937)
*   **Krasnodar Krai** (1937-present)
*   **Krasnodar Municipality** (2003-present)

It was also part of or associated with the **South-Eastern Union** (1917-1918) and the **Kuban Soviet Republic** (1918). Its foundational history is tied to the **Black Sea Cossack Host**.

### Geography and Administration
Krasnodar covers an **area of 339.31 square kilometers**. It is located at **coordinates 45.033333°N, 38.983333°E** and sits at an **elevation of 25 meters** above sea level. The city is situated directly on the **Kuban River** and lies within the historical **Kuban** region.

Administratively, it is the capital of **Krasnodar Krai** (since September 13, 1937) and the center of the **Krasnodar Municipality** (since September 14, 2003). The city itself is subdivided into several administrative okrugs and districts, including **Zapadniy okrug**, **Karasunsky District**, **Prikubansky Okrug**, and **Tsentralniy okrug**.

It operates in the **Moscow Time zone (UTC+03:00)**. The **local dialing code is 861**, and postal codes range from **350000 to 350999**.

### Demographics
Krasnodar is a **"million city"** (a city with over one million inhabitants), a status it achieved around **2018**. Its population has grown steadily based on official estimates and census data:
*   **2016:** 853,848
*   **2017:** 881,476
*   **2018:** 899,541
*   **2020:** 932,629
*   **2021:** 948,827 (estimate); 1,099,344 (census)
*   **2022:** 1,113,342 (estimate)
*   **2023:** 1,121,291 (estimate)
*   **2024:** 1,138,654 (estimate)
*   **2025 (Preferred):** 1,154,885 (estimate)

### Government and Politics
The city's executive head is the **Mayor of Krasnodar**. Recent mayors include **Vladimir Yevlanov** (2005), **Yevgeny Pervyshov** (2016-2021), **Andrey Alexeyeenko** (2021-2022), and the current mayor, **Evgeny Naumov** (in office since November 9, 2022). The city's legislative body is the **Krasnodar City Duma**.

### International Relations
Krasnodar maintains an active program of international twinning and sister-city relationships:
*   **Karlsruhe, Germany** (1998-2022)
*   **Harbin, China** (2008-)
*   **Ferrara, Italy** (1965-)
*   **Tallahassee, USA** (1984-)
*   **Burgas, Bulgaria** (1974-)
*   **Nancy, France** (2017-)
*   **Wels, Austria** (2018-)
*   **Sukhumi, Abkhazia** (2012-)
*   **Larnaca, Cyprus** (2019-)
*   **Yerevan, Armenia** (2014-)

### Infrastructure and Digital Presence
The city's **official website is https://krd.ru/**, offered in both **Russian and English**. It has verified social media accounts:
*   **Twitter:** @krdru (Russian), @enkrd (English)
*   **Instagram:** @krdru
*   **VKontakte:** krdru
*   **YouTube:** krasnodaradm (channel ID: UCvZx20BbCE19_tzYD4zUMtg)
*   **Telegram:** krdru
*   **Odnoklassniki:** krdru

### Cultural Identity and Recognition
Krasnodar is commonly known by the nicknames **"Capital of the South"** and **"Southern capital."** Its **native label is Краснодар**. The city is the subject of entries in numerous major encyclopedias, including the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *Great Soviet Encyclopedia*, *Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition* (as Ekaterinodar), and *Treccani's Enciclopedia Italiana*.

It has a dedicated **coat of arms** and **flag**. The city is associated with a vast number of **Wikipedia language editions** (over 200) and is categorized in Wikimedia Commons. It has specific categories for associated people (**Category:People from Krasnodar**), births (**Category:Births in Krasnodar**), deaths (**Category:Deaths in Krasnodar**), and cultural heritage monuments (**list of cultural heritage monuments in Krasnodar**).

### Historical Documentation
The city's history is documented in several specific historical sources, including entries on the **Assault on Ekaterinodar** and the **timeline of Krasnodar**. It is referenced in specialized encyclopedias such as the *Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron*, *Sytin Military Encyclopedia*, *New International Encyclopedia* (as Yekaterinodar), and the *Encyclopedia of China (third edition)* (as 克拉斯诺达尔).

## References

1. ОКТМО. 185/2016. Southern FD
2. [Source](https://www.karlsruhe.de/b4/international/staedtepartnerschaften/krasnodar)
3. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/karlsrue/)
4. [Source](https://www.karlsruhe.de/stadt-rathaus/weltweit-vernetzt/staedtepartnerschaften-der-stadt-karlsruhe/krasnodar)
5. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/harbin/)
6. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/ferrara/)
7. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/tallahassee/)
8. [Source](https://www.burgas.bg/bg/pobratimeni-gradove-1)
9. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/burgas/)
10. [Source](http://www.burgas.bg/en/info/index/218)
11. [Source](https://www.nancy.fr/citoyenne/relations-internationales/nancy-partenaire-de-11-villes-dans-le-monde-516.html)
12. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/nancy/)
13. [Source](https://www.nancy.fr/nancy-la-ville/nancy-internationale/nancy-partenaire-de-11-villes-dans-le-monde)
14. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/wels/)
15. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/suhum/)
16. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/larnaka/)
17. [Source](https://krd.ru/administratsiya/administratsii-krasnodara/upravlenie-kontrolya-i-protokola/mezhdunarodnye-svyazi/goroda-pobratimy/erevan/)
18. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
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25. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/russia/cities/southern/)
26. Source
27. [Среднегодовая численность населения Краснодарского края за 2022 год (с учетом итогов Всероссийской переписи населения 2020 г.). Federal State Statistics Service](https://web.archive.org/web/20230406091055/https://krsdstat.gks.ru/storage/mediabank/Crednegod(1).htm)
28. Q133797648
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30. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ru.htm)
31. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
32. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
33. KBpedia
34. museum-digital
35. YouTube API