Varzuga (rural locality)

First mentioned in 1466, Varzuga, along with Umba, is the first documented permanent Russian settlement on the Kola Peninsula,Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Murmansk Oblast, p. 18 although it is likely that it had been established as early as the second quarter of the 15th century.Газета "Мурманский Вестник". Иван Ушаков. [http://e-project.redu.ru/virtual/varzuga/material/ushakov1.htm Варзуга] The 1466 document describes a transaction between Timofey Yermolinich, a resident of Varzuga, and the Solovetsky Monastery, to which he transferred his lands along the Varzuga River and the hunting grounds along the sea coast. Other documents of the 1460s indicate that the residents of Varzuga were the second generation of the original Russian settlers. The documents refer to the residents' land plots as otchinas, meaning that they were inherited from the fathers, but there is no mention of {{Lang|ru-latn|dedinas}} (lands inherited from the grandfathers).

From the second half of the 15th century, it served as the seat of Varzuzhskaya Volost (which was abolished in 1841).

By 1563, Varzuga's population grew to 124 homesteads, who were primarily salmon fishers.Газета "Терский Берег", №37, 14 сентября 2002 г. [http://e-project.redu.ru/virtual/varzuga/material/selenia.htm "Селения Терского берега"] In the mid-17th century, some of the residents moved out to the coast, where they founded new villages, such as Kuzomen and Tetrino.

In 1861, Varzuga was a part of Kemsky Uyezd of Arkhangelsk Governorate.{{cite book|title=Списки населённыхъ мѣстъ Россійской Имперіи|last=Центральный статистический комитетъ Министерства внутреннихъ делъ|year=1861|location=Санктпетербургъ|page=23}} It had three Orthodox churches and housed its own rural government. The population was 249 (120 male and 129 female); living in 54 homesteads. The 1897 Census counted 793 residents, and the population grew further. By 1910, there were 1,001 people living in 161 homesteads. Educational facilities at the time included a government college and a parochial school.File:VarzugaPanorama.jpg

An 1850 Pomor izba located in the village was formerly considered to be a heritage site of federal importance, but was excluded from the list in 1997.Decree #452, Appendix 2

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last=Архивный отдел Администрации Мурманской области. Государственный Архив Мурманской области.|title=Административно-территориальное деление Мурманской области (1920–1993 гг.). Справочник|publisher=Мурманское издательско-полиграфическое предприятие "Север"|year=1995|location=Мурманск}}
• {{RussiaAdmMunRef|mur|mun|list|tersky}}
• {{Cite Russian law

|ru_entity=Президент Российской Федерации

|ru_type=Указ

|ru_number=452

|ru_date=5 мая 1997 г.

|ru_title=Об уточнении состава объектов исторического и культурного наследия федерального (общероссийского) значения

|ru_effective_date=по истечении 7 дней после дня официального опубликования

|ru_published_in="Российская газета", №93-94

|ru_published_date=15 мая 1997 г

|ru_url

|en_entity=President of the Russian Federation

|en_type=Decree

|en_number=452

|en_date=May 5, 1997

|en_title=On the Updating of the List of Objects of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Federal (All-Russian) Importance

|en_effective_date=after 7 days after the official publication date

|en_url

}}

{{wikivoyage}}

• Official website of the Government of Murmansk Oblast. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100410054021/http://mun.gov-murman.ru/local/varzuga.shtml Varzuga Rural Settlement], map and information {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://e-project.redu.ru/virtual/varzuga/index.htm Information about Varzuga] {{in lang|ru}}
• [http://rbth.ru/articles/2011/04/27/varzuga_outpost_on_the_white_sea_12799.html Varzuga: Outpost on the White Sea]

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2012}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Rural localities in Murmansk Oblast

Category:Populated places established in the 1460s