Brief information about Tambov
The first mention of the city of Tambov is found in the Old Tambov Chronicle and dates to 1636, when construction of the city began on the left bank of the Tsna River by decree of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich.
The city was built as a fortress to protect the southern borders of the Russian state against nomad raids. In the course of time Tambov becomes an important historical center and one of the leading cities of the Central Black Earth district. Today Tambov is an industrial center with well-developed chemical engineering, electrical, car-and tractor component sectors. The region maintains trade and economic relations with 50 countries.
The region's diversified industry, in which engineering, metalworking and the light, food and chemical industries figure prominently, has a determining role in the present-day output profile. Production volumes have increased over the last few years. The main industrial centers in the Tambov Region are Tambov, Michurinsk, Morshansk, Kotovsk, Rasskazovo, Uvarovo, Kirsanov, Zherdevka, and Pervomaisky. More than 2 400 industrial companies and facilities manufacturing products worth about $1 billion and employing 97 500 people operate in the region.
The Blazon of the city is a hive with three golden bees above it. It symbolizes the diligence of citizens, their peaceful labour and the beauty of the Tambov nature.
Tambov is one of Russia's main cultural and intellectual centers with a rich and interesting history. It was awarded the status of historic city in 1989. Architecturally Tambov combines modem buildings and old buildings dating from the 18th and 19th century, which have been restored after many years of work and are now the city's pride and adornment. City authorities attach great importance to preserving cultural, historical and architectural monuments, the city administration has a long-time program for preserving monuments of the past.
Three professional theaters, a Regional Philharmonic and more than 700 cultural and entertainment facilities operate in the Tambov Region today. The Regional Drama Theater is Tambov's pride.
The territory's cultural and historical heritage is preserved in 12 regional museums, which have a total fund of 167 000 items. The best known museum is the Tambov Regional Local History Museum, which has a splendid fund of ethnographic and artistic materials, rare books from the 17th-19th centuries, unique collections of porcelain, weapons and Russian medals, and information on outstanding people whose life and work were associated with Tambov Region.
The G.V. Chicherin museum house and one of the country's first museums of the history of medicine are also of great interest.
In addition to museums, the region has an extensive network of libraries. One of the oldest is the Pushkin Library, which opened in the early 19th century. Today 711 public libraries with a stock of 11.1 million books operate in the Tambov Region.
Several research institutes, higher educational institutions, a large number of general education and vocational schools operate in Tambov. The names of many famous Russians are associated with the Tambov territory, for example, Sergei Rachmaninov, whose name is borne by the Tambov Music School, poet Gavriil Derzhavin, who was once governor of the Tambov Province, Evgeny Baratynsky, Aleksei Zhemchuzhnikov, and many others. Materials on them are kept in the local history museum. Today Tambov is a beautiful clean city where former mansions of the nobility, old churches, and modern buildings stand side by side.