Opothleyahola

Aizkraukle (German: Ascheraden) is a town[3] in the Vidzeme region in Latvia, which is the administrative centre of Aizkraukle Municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River. The population in 2020 was at 7,018.[4]

History

In the second half of the 14th century, the Livonian Order built the Aizkraukle Castle, a few kilometres downstream from the ancient hillfort of Livs. The ruins of the castle still remain today. Before World War I, the settlement that stood near the site of modern-day Aizkraukle was known by its German name of Ascheraden.

The modern town was established in 1961 as a settlement to house the builders of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas.[5] It was originally called Stučka[6] (or "Стучка", Stuchka[7] and "имени Петра Стучки", imeni Petra Stuchki[5] in Russian), for Pēteris Stučka, a Latvian communist.[5] Town status was granted to it in 1967,[5][6] which is also when it became the administrative center of Stučkas District.[citation needed] In 1990, it was renamed as Aizkraukle, after the nearest railway station.[5] The name literally means "beyond the Kraukle River."[5]

Economy

General industries in the area include power generation, woodworking, printing, and agriculture.

In 2004, Aizkraukle was awarded "The tidiest town in Latvia 2004" in its size group.

  • Aizkraukle Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church
    Aizkraukle Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church
  • Soviet-era supermarket
    Soviet-era supermarket

Notable people

See also

Citations and references

  1. ^ "Reģionu, novadu, pilsētu un pagastu kopējā un sauszemes platība gada sākumā". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Iedzīvotāju skaits pēc tautības reģionos, pilsētās, novados, pagastos, apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās gada sākumā (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā) 2021 - 2022". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Administratīvo teritoriju un apdzīvoto vietu likums". Archived from the original on 2020-08-18.
  4. ^ "ISG020. Population number and its change by statistical region, city, town, 21 development centres and county". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Pospelov, p. 24
  6. ^ a b Latvijas PSR Administratīvi Teritoriālais Iedalījums, p. 47
  7. ^ Latvijas PSR Administratīvi Teritoriālais Iedalījums, p. 118

Cited sources

  • Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary." Москва, "Русские словари", 1993.
  • Latvijas PSR Augstakās Padomes Prezidija Padomju Darba Jautājumu Daļa. Latvijas PSR Administratīvi Teritoriālais Iedalījums. 1978. gads. Izdevnieciba "Liesma", Riga 1978.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aizkraukle