# Maykop

> city in the south of Russia

**Wikidata**: [Q3752](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3752)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maykop)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maykop

## Summary
Maykop is a city located in the southern part of Russia, serving as the capital of the Republic of Adygea and the administrative center of the Maykop Urban Okrug. Founded in 1857 within the Kuban Oblast, it has evolved through numerous administrative changes to become a significant urban settlement with a population of approximately 137,899 as of January 1, 2025. The city functions as a cultural and political hub where Russian and Adyghe are the official languages, situated at an elevation of 220 meters above sea level.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** City and administrative division of Russia; specifically a "big city" and the capital of Adygea.
*   **Founding Date:** Established in 1857, with the earliest written record dating back to 1825.
*   **Population:** 137,899 residents as of January 1, 2025 (demographic balance method); previous counts include 139,084 (2021), 141,475 (2020), and 143,343 (2017).
*   **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 44.6° N, Longitude 40.083333333333° E.
*   **Area:** 308 square kilometers.
*   **Elevation:** 220 meters above sea level.
*   **Time Zone:** UTC+03:00.
*   **Official Languages:** Russian and Adyghe.
*   **Postal Code:** 385000.
*   **Local Dialing Code:** 343.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** RUMKP.
*   **Administrative History:** Capital of the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast (1936–1992), Adygea (1992–2005), and Maykop Urban Okrug (2005–present).
*   **Twinning:** Sister city with Gaziantep, Turkey, since October 10, 2011.
*   **Native Name:** Майкоп (Russian); Мыекъуап (Adyghe).
*   **Identifiers:** GND 4601377-5, VIAF 151287870, GeoNames 528293, Freebase /m/02hgr9.

## FAQs
**What is the historical administrative lineage of Maykop?**
Maykop has served as the capital for several distinct entities over time, starting with the Kuban Oblast from 1860 to 1918, followed by various Soviet republics and oblasts like the Kuban-Black Sea Oblast and the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast. Since 1992, it has been the capital of the Republic of Adygea, and since 2005, it has functioned as the capital of the Maykop Urban Okrug.

**How has the population of Maykop changed in recent years?**
The city's population has seen a gradual decline in recent estimates, dropping from 143,343 in 2017 to 137,899 in the 2025 demographic balance. This trend reflects a decrease from 141,970 in early 2018 and 141,475 in 2020, with the 2021 census recording 139,084 residents.

**What are the official languages and cultural identifiers of the city?**
Both Russian and Adyghe are recognized as official languages within Maykop, reflecting its status as the capital of the Republic of Adygea. The city is distinctively identified by its native labels "Майкоп" and "Мыекъуап," and it maintains a coat of arms and a flag that symbolize its regional identity.

**Where is Maykop located geographically and how is it connected?**
Situated in southern Russia at coordinates 44.6° N and 40.0833° E, the city lies 220 meters above sea level within the Maykop Urban Okrug. It is connected internationally through its sister city relationship with Gaziantep and is accessible via the UN/LOCODE RUMKP for trade and logistics.

## Why It Matters
Maykop holds critical significance as the political and administrative heart of the Republic of Adygea, a unique federal subject of Russia where the Adyghe culture is preserved alongside Russian influence. Its role as a capital since the formation of the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast in 1936 underscores its historical importance in the North Caucasus region's governance and ethnic identity. The city serves as a primary hub for demographic, economic, and cultural activities in the southern Russian landscape, acting as a bridge between the Kuban region and the broader Caucasus. Its continuous administrative evolution from a Kuban Oblast settlement to a modern urban okrug demonstrates its resilience and enduring relevance in Russian federal structure. Furthermore, its status as a "big city" with over 130,000 inhabitants makes it a vital center for education, commerce, and local governance in the area.

## Notable For
*   **Dual Official Language Status:** One of the few Russian cities where both Russian and Adyghe hold official status, preserving indigenous linguistic heritage.
*   **Historical Continuity:** Maintains a continuous administrative role since 1857, transitioning through the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and modern Russian Federation.
*   **Capital of Adygea:** Serves as the sole capital of the Republic of Adygea, distinguishing it from other cities in the region.
*   **Distinct Administrative Evolution:** Has been the capital of the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast, the Republic of Adygea, and the Maykop Urban Okrug, reflecting complex political shifts.
*   **International Twinning:** Established a formal sister city relationship with Gaziantep, Turkey, in 2011, fostering cross-border cultural exchange.
*   **Rich Historical Record:** Features the earliest written record from 1825, predating its official founding in 1857, indicating early settlement significance.
*   **Unique Identifiers:** Possesses a specific set of administrative codes including OKATO 79401000000 and OKTMO 79701000001, used for federal statistical tracking.

## Body

### Geographic and Physical Characteristics
Maykop is situated in the southern region of Russia, specifically within the Maykop Urban Okrug. The city covers a total area of 308 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 220 meters above sea level. Its precise geographic location is marked by the coordinates 44.6° North latitude and 40.083333333333° East longitude. The local time zone is UTC+03:00. The city is identified globally by the UN/LOCODE RUMKP and locally by the postal code 385000. The local dialing code for the region is 343.

### Administrative History and Evolution
The administrative history of Maykop is extensive, reflecting the shifting political landscapes of the Caucasus. The city was founded in 1857 within the Kuban Oblast, which existed until 1918. Following the Russian Revolution, it became part of the Kuban Soviet Republic (1918), the Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic (1918), and the North Caucasian Soviet Republic (1918–1919). In the Soviet era, it was part of the Kuban-Black Sea Oblast (1920–1924), the South-East region of the Russian SFSR (1924), the North Caucasus Krai (1924–1934), and the Azov-Black Sea Krai (1934–1936).

From 1936 to 1992, Maykop served as the capital of the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast. Upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it became the capital of the Republic of Adygea from 1992 to 2005. Since 2005, it has functioned as the capital of the Maykop Urban Okrug. The city is also the capital of the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast historically, and currently serves as the administrative center for the Maykop Urban Okrug. It is distinct from the Maikop kurgan, an archaeological site.

### Demographics and Population Trends
The population of Maykop has been tracked through various censuses and estimates. In 2017, the population was recorded at 143,343. By January 1, 2018, this figure was 141,970. The 2020 estimate placed the population at 141,475. The 2021 census recorded 139,084 residents. More recent data indicates a population of 137,965 in 2024, determined by demographic balance. The most preferred and current estimate as of January 1, 2025, is 137,899, also determined by demographic balance. These figures highlight a gradual demographic shift over the last decade.

### Cultural and Linguistic Identity
Maykop is a multilingual city where Russian and Adyghe are the official languages. The native label for the city is "Майкоп" in Russian and "Мыекъуап" in Adyghe. The city's cultural identity is further represented by its coat of arms and flag. The flag of Maykop is a recognized symbol, and the coat of arms is also officially documented. The city is described in major encyclopedias, including the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947) and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890). It is also featured in the Grove Art Online and the Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

### Infrastructure and Connectivity
The city is connected to the global community through various digital and physical identifiers. It has an OpenStreetMap relation ID of 3441283 and a Wikimapia ID of 123076. The city's official website is https://maikop.ru/, which is available in Russian. Maykop is twinned with Gaziantep, Turkey, a relationship established on October 10, 2011. The city is also listed in the Google Play Store under the ID "Majkop" and has an iNaturalist place ID of 41354.

### Classification and Identifiers
Maykop is classified as a city and a large human settlement. It is an administrative division of Russia and is considered a "big city." The city has a wide range of unique identifiers used for cataloging and research. These include the GND ID 4601377-5, VIAF ID 151287870, and Library of Congress Authority ID n82020629. It is also identified by the FAST ID 1218276, Freebase ID /m/02hgr9, and GeoNames ID 528293. Other identifiers include the KLADR ID 0100000100000, OKATO ID 79401000000, and OKTMO ID 79701000001. The city is listed in the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana and the Treccani's Enciclopedia Italiana.

### Media and Representation
The city is represented in various media and digital archives. There is a specific image of the Maykop railway station available on Wikimedia Commons. The city's flag and coat of arms are also available as digital files. Maykop has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons and a main topic category on Wikipedia. The city is described in the Great Russian Encyclopedia Portal and the National Library of Israel J9U database. It is also featured in the Museum Digital Place database with ID 19228.

### Related Categories and People
Maykop is the birthplace of many notable individuals, categorized under "People from Maykop." There is also a specific category for people buried in the city and another for deaths occurring in Maykop. The city's Wikipedia title is "Maykop," and it has a sitelink count of 103 across various languages. The city is discussed in the Quora topic "Maykop-1" and has a Vikidia article in French. The city is also associated with the MusicBrainz area ID ad315539-9e6b-4ede-a06c-6a827d4e99e1.

## References

1. OKTMO
2. [Source](https://www.gaziantep.bel.tr/tr/kardes-sehirler/adige-cumhuriyeti-maykop)
3. [Source](https://www.gaziantep.bel.tr/tr/kardes-sehirler)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. BnF authorities
6. [Source](http://maikop.ru/city/maykop-stolitsa-respubliki-adygeya/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. MusicBrainz
10. [Source](http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/doc_2017/bul_dr/mun_obr2017.rar)
11. [26. Численность постоянного населения Российской Федерации по муниципальным образованиям на 1 января 2018 года. Federal State Statistics Service](http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/doc_2018/bul_dr/mun_obr2018.rar)
12. [Source](https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/CcG8qBhP/mun_obr2020.rar)
13. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/russia/cities/southern/)
14. Source
15. Q133797648
16. GeoNames
17. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ru.htm)
18. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
19. Quora
20. Enciclopedia Treccani
21. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
22. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
23. museum-digital