Kazakhsky Uyezd


Kazakhsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Qazax from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities.

Geography

Elisabethpol Governorate consisted of Yelizavetpolsky, Nukhisky, Shusha, Zangezur, Kazakhsky, Areshsky, Dzhebrailsky and Dzhavanshirsky Uyezds. Kazakh Uyezd was located in the northwestern part of Elisabethpol Governorate bordering Georgian and Erivan governorates on the north and northwest and Eslisabethpol uyezd of Elisapethpol Governorate on the east. The area of the uyezd was 6024.2 square verst. The southwestern part of the uyezd is mountainous, the northeastern part was mainly made up of lowlands. Two-thirds of uyezd was covered by Sevan or Shah-dagh mountain range of Lesser Caucasus which split Erivan with Elisabethpol governorate extending from south west towards northeast, and then meeting the Kura River in the lowlands. Among its peaks are Soyuq-bulag, Shah-dagh, Murguz.

History

The Qazakh sultanate existed from the 15th century and was incorporated into Russian Empire along with Georgian territories. Qazakh was then a part of Georgian Governorate until the establishment of Elisabethpol Governorate in 1868. The uyezd was one of the first places where revolts against Russian rule erupted in the beginning of 1918. The uyezd was abolished in 1929 by Soviet authorities and on August 8, 1930 Qazakh Rayon was created. Kazakh, also called New Akstafa was an important railway station linking Elisabethpol Governorate with Erivan and Kars via Transcaucasus Railway.

Population

According to a census held in 1897, the population of the uyezd was 112,074, of which 64,101 were Azerbaijani Turks, 43,555 were Armenians, 3,444 - Russians, 425 - Georgians and other minorities. According to Soviet census from 1926, the population rose to 121,255 people of which 110,550 were Azerbaijani Turks, 3,632 - Armenians, 3,816 - Russians, 1,543 - Germans. The uyezd ranked first in Elisabethpol Governorate for the number of its male population. The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, and tobacco growing. Wool production played an important role in the economy of uyezd. Kazakh Uyezd had the lowest number of plants and factories in the governorate. According to statistical data from 1891, there were 10,590 horses, 2,700 donkeys and mules, 77,826 great cattle, 8,107 buffalos, 251,000 sheep, 14,100 goats, 10,468 pigs.