The district is elongated from northwest to southeast with Lake Kubenskoye, one of the biggest lakes in Vologda Oblast, forming its northeastern border. The lake is shared between Vologodsky and Ust-Kubensky Districts. Almost all of the district's territory lies in the basin of the Sukhona River. In particular, the rivers in the north lie in the basin of Lake Kubenskoye, the source of the Sukhona, and the southern part is in the basin of the Vologda River, one of the major tributaries of the Sukhona. The Lezha River, another major tributary of the Sukhona, forms the southeastern border of the district, and the Sukhona itself forms the eastern border, upstream from the mouth of the Lezha.
Minor areas in the northwest of the district are in the Sheksna River's basin and some areas in the south of the district are in the basin of the Sogozha River. Both rivers are left tributaries of the Volga, and thus the divide between the basins of the White and the Caspian Seas crosses the district.
History
Vologda was first mentioned in reliable sources in 1264 as a remote settlement controlled by the Novgorod Republic. Subsequently, it became an important settlement on the trade route connecting Central Russia to the White Sea via the Northern Dvina River, and therefore it was a subject of frequent disputes between Novgorod and the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In the 15th century, it became the seat of the quasi-independent Principality of Vologda, which was most of the time controlled by Moscow and which included the current area of Vologodsky District. In the 15th century, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
On July 15, 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai, and the uyezds were abolished. Instead, Vologodsky District with the administrative center in Vologda was established as a part of Vologda Okrug. On June 20, 1932, the district was abolished. Some of its territory was transferred to Chyobsarsky, Gryazovetsky, and Ust-Kubinsky Districts, and the rest was administratively subordinated to Vologda.[2]
In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into Northern Oblast, which in turn was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast in 1937. On September 1, 1938, Vologodsky District was re-established.[2]
On July 15, 1929, Chyobsarsky District with the administrative center in Chyobsara was established. On December 13, 1962, it was abolished and its territory was split between Vologodsky and Cherepovetsky Districts. On January 12, 1965, Sheksninsky District was established, which included some of the areas of the former Chyobsarsky District, including the urban-type settlement of Chyobsara.[2]
On July 15, 1929, Kubeno-Ozersky District with the administrative center in the selo of Kubenskoye was also established. On December 13, 1962, it was abolished and merged into Vologodsky District.[2]
As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Vologodsky Municipal District.[6] The city of oblast significance of Vologda is incorporated separately from the district as Vologda Urban Okrug.[11]
Economy
Industry
In 2011, food industry was the leading industry in the district, producing 61% of the gross product. Timber industry is next in importance.[12]
Agriculture
Crops are grown in the district, and meat, milk, and eggs are produced. In 2011, the district produced more crops, milk, meat, and eggs than any other district of Vologda Oblast.[12]
Transportation
One of the principal highways in Russia, M8, which connects Moscow and Arkhangelsk, crosses the eastern part of the district from south to north. In Vologda, two more highways branch off. Another highway, A114, connecting Vologda to Cherepovets and Saint Petersburg, runs west from Vologda, and the highway connecting Vologda with the towns of Kirillov, Vytegra, and Pudozh runs northwest along the axis of the district.
The railroad connecting Yaroslavl and Vologda crosses the district from south to north. In the south of the district, a railroad to Buy branches off southeast. The railroad connecting Vologda with Cherepovets and Saint Petersburg begins in Vologda and runs west through the district.
Lake Kubenskoye and the Sukhona River are both navigable, as well as the Lezha and the Vologda in their lower courses, but there is no passenger navigation.
Culture and recreation
The district contains six objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by the Russian Federal law and additionally sixty-eight objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.[13] The objects protected at the federal level are the Ethnographic Museum in Semyonkovo,[clarification needed] the Mozhaysky Estate in Mozhayskoye (formerly Kotelnikovo), the Intercession Church in Pokrovskoye, and the Ulyanov House in Raskopino.
There are three museums in the district. The Ethnographic Museum in Semyonkovo is an open-air museum which is created for preservation of traditional wooden architecture in the central and eastern parts of Vologda Oblast.[14] The former Mozhaysky Estate in the settlement of Mozhayskoye is now the museum of Alexander Mozhaysky.[15]Alexander Mozhaysky, Russian aviation pioneer, who in 1884 constructed a monoplane aircraft and performed an unsuccessful attempt to take off, lived in the estate, which belonged to his wife, between 1860 and 1863. The Vologda District Museum is located in the selo of Kubenskoye.[16]
^Культура (in Russian). Администрация Вологодского района. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
Sources
Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №371-ОЗ от 4 июня 1999 г. «О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области», в ред. Закона №2916-ОЗ от 7 декабря 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон области "О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №124–125, 29 июля 1999 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #371-OZ of June 4, 1999 On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Law #2916-OZ of December 7, 2012 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Правительство Вологодской области. Постановление №178 от 1 марта 2010 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц Вологодской области», в ред. Постановления №686 от 25 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Постановления Правительства области». Вступил в силу 20 марта 2010 г. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №29, 20 марта 2010 г. (Government of Vologda Oblast. Resolution #178 of March 1, 2010 On Adopting the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #686 of June 25, 2012 On Amending Various Resolutions of the Oblast Government. Effective as of March 20, 2010.).
Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №1112-ОЗ от 6 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ Вологодского муниципального района, границах и статусе муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав», в ред. Закона №2809-ОЗ от 5 июля 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Законы области, устанавливающие границы и статус муниципальных образований области». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №242, 11 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #1112-OZ of December 6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of Vologodsky Municipal District, on the Borders and Status of the Municipal Formations It Comprises, as amended by the Law #2809-OZ of July 5, 2012 On Amending Various Laws of the Oblast, Establishing the Borders and the Status of the Municipal Formations of the Oblast. Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №1103-ОЗ от 6 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципального образования "Город Вологда" и наделении его статусом городского округа», в ред. Закона №2809-ОЗ от 5 июля 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные законы области, устанавливающие границы и статус муниципальных образований области». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования (21 декабря 2004 г.). Опубликован: "Красный Север", №242, 11 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #1103-OZ of December 6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formation of the "City of Vologda" and on Granting It Urban Okrug Status, as amended by the Law #2809-OZ of July 5, 2012 On Amending Various Laws of the Oblast, Establishing the Borders and the Status of the Municipal Formations of the Oblast. Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication (December 21, 2004).).