Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd

Shahur-Daralagezsky Uyezd (English) Шарур-Даралагезский уезд (Modern Russian)
Coat of Arms
Coat of arms of Erivan Governorate
Established	1870
Abolished	1917
Political status Region	Uyezd Caucasus
Area
Area - Rank	2,611.8 verst² n/a
Population (1897 census)
Population - Rank - Density - Urban - Rural	76,538 inhabitants n/a 29.3 inhab. / verst²
Government
First Head Last Head	n/a n/a

Map of Erivan Governorate with seven uyezds. Sharur-Daralagoz is to the north of Nakhchivansky Uyezd

Shahur-Daralagezsky Uyezd (Russian: Шарур-Даралагезский уезд) was one of the uyezds (administrative units) of Erivan Governorate of the Russian Empire with its center in Bash Norashen from 1870 until its formal abolition in 1917.^[1]

Geography

Erivan Governorate consisted of Erivansky, Alexandropolsky, Echmiadzinsky, Nakhchivansky, Novobayazetsky, Surmalinsky, and Sharur-Daralagezsky uyezds.^[2] Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd was located in the south central part of Erivan Governorate bordering its Erivansky and Novobayazetsky Uyezds in the north, Nakhchivansky in the south, Zangezursky and Javanshirsky uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate in the east and Persian Empire on the southwest. The area of the uyezd was 2,611.8 square versts (2,972.4 km²). In general, the territory of the uyezd resembled a crater surrounded from the south, north and east by tall mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus. The plain which made up a small part of the uyezd was close to Araz river, into which the only river irrigating the plains, Arpa-chay discharged. The mountainous part of the territory was called Daralagoz (Azerbaijani: Daralagöz) and the lowland part was called Sharur (Azerbaijani: Şərur). Sharur constituted only 8.5% of the whole uyezd area. Arpa-chay starts at the southeastern tip of Lake Goycha and flows 107 verst before discharging into Araz, and has many tributaries, Alagoz-chay being the longest. The mountainous part of uyezd, approximately 12,150 desyatins is forested.^[3]

History

The territory of the uyezd had been a part of Erivan and Nakhchivan khanates until 1828, when according to Treaty of Turkmenchay, it was annexed to Russian Empire. In 1849, Erivan Governorate made up of Erivansky, Nakhchivansky, Alexandropolsky, Novobayazetsky and Ordubadsky uyezds, was established. Following administrative reforms, the northern part of Nakhchivansky Uyezd was separated to form a new Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd in 1870.^[2][4] In 1918, the uyezd became part of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic but was disputed by Democratic Republic of Armenia. After establishment of Soviet rule in 1920, the territories of the uyezd became part of Armenian SSR and Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan SSR.^[4]

Population

According to census held in 1897, the population of uyezd was 76,538, of which 51,560 were Azerbaijani Turks, 20,726 were Armenians, 3,761 - Kurds, 122 - Russians and other minorities.^[5] Among 15 rural communities and 161 villages of Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd, Azerbaijani Turks made up the majority of population with 70.5%, while Armenians and Kurds constituted 27.5% and 1.5%, respectively.^[3] The population in mountainous Daralagoz was engaged primarily in cattlebreeding while the residents of lowland Sharur were engaged in agricultural farming, and gardening. Manufacturing was not developed in this part of the governorate. Only 47 winemaking enterprises, 299 mills, 89 cotton-cleaning, 4 rice-cleaning factories existed in the uyezd. The temperature in the winter reached -27 °C.^[3]

References

1. Chisholm, Hugh (1910). The Encyclopædia britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. Volume 9. Leiden, the Netherlands: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p. 748. ISBN 978-90-04-17901-1. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
2. "Административно-территориальные реформы на Кавказе в середине и во второй половине ХIХ века" [Administrative-territorial reforms in Caucasus in middle and second half of 19th century]. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
3. "Большой энциклопедический словарь Брокгауза и Ефрона. Шаруро-Даралагезский уезд" [Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia Dictionary. Sharur-Daralagoz Uyezd]. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
4. "Нахичеванская автономная республика" [Nakhichavn Autonomous Republic]. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
5. "Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Распределение населения по родному языку и уездам Российской Империи кроме губерний Европейской России" [First All Russian Imperial Census of 1897. Population split according to languages spoken; uyezds of Russian empire except for governorates in European part of empire]. Retrieved 2011-08-15.