Sheksninsky District is located on both banks of the Sheksna River, with the western (right-bank) part being considerably smaller than the eastern (left-bank) one. The Sheksna was turned into the Sheksna Reservoir upstream of the settlement of Sheksna, and downstream of that settlement it flows its natural course. A major part of the district belongs to the basin of the Sheksna, with the exception of its southeastern corner, which is divided between the basins of the Sogozha and the Vologda Rivers. As the Vologda belongs to the basin of the Northern Dvina, and both the Sheksna and the Sogozha belong to the basin of the Volga, the district is crossed by the divide between the basins of the White and the Caspian Seas.
The landscape of the district is flat, with large areas allocated for agriculture. The remaining territory is covered by woods.
History
The Sheksna River was always one of the main waterways connecting central Russia with Lake Onega and with the Northern Dvina. The selo of Nikolskoye, currently the work settlement of Sheksna, has been known since 1590.
On July 15, 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai, and the uyezds were abolished. Instead, Chyobsarsky District with the administrative center in the railway station of Chyobsara (which is now an urban-type settlement) was established as a part of Vologda Okrug. In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Chyobsarsky District remained in Vologda Oblast.[2]
The western part of the area was in 1708 included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate was split off. The area became a part of Ustyuzhensky Uyezd of Belozersk Oblast of Novgorod Governorate. In 1776, the area was transferred to Novgorod Viceroyalty. In 1777, Cherepovetsky Uyezd was established, and the area was transferred to it. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and the area was transferred to Novgorod Governorate. Cherepovetsky Uyezd was abolished and merged into Ustyuzhensky Uyezd. However, in 1802 Cherepovetsky Uyezd was re-established.
In June 1918, five uyezds of Novgorod Governorate, including Cherepovetsky Uyezd, were split off to form Cherepovets Governorate, with the administrative center in Cherepovets. On August 1, 1927, Cherepovets Governorate was abolished, and its area became Cherepovets Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. Simultaneously, the uyezds were abolished, and Prisheksninsky District with the administrative center of Nikolskoye (currently Sheksna) was established. On September 23, 1937, Prisheksninsky District was transferred to newly established Vologda Oblast.[2]
In 1954, the selo of Nikolskoye, the administrative center of Prisheksninsky District, was granted urban-type settlement status and renamed Sheksna. In 1959, Prisheksninsky District was abolished and merged with Chyobsarsky District. On December 13, 1962, as a part of an abortive Khrushchev's administrative reform, Chyobsarsky District was abolished as well and split between Vologodsky and Cherepovetsky Districts.
On January 12, 1965, Sheksninsky District with the administrative center in Sheksna was established.[2]
Economy
Industry
The economy of the district is based on food industry and timber industry. [11] The Sheksna Hydropower Plant, located in Sheksna, is a major energy producer.
Agriculture
Agriculture in the district is based on production of meat, milk, and eggs.[11]
The railroad connecting Vologda with Cherepovets and St. Petersburg also crosses the district from east to west. There are railway stations in both Sheksna and Chyobsara.
The only museum in the district is the Historical and Cultural Center, located in Sheksna. It displays collections on local history, as well as temporary exhibitions.[12]
^The count of urban-type settlements may include the work settlements, the resort settlements, the suburban (dacha) settlements, as well as urban-type settlements proper.
^ ab"Общая характеристика района" (in Russian). Администрация Шекснинского муниципального района. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
^"Центр истории и культуры" (in Russian). Администрация Шекснинского муниципального района. Retrieved November 22, 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 №1130-ОЗ от 6 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ Шекснинского 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 #1130-OZ of December 6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of Sheksninsky Municipal District, on the Borders and Status of the Municipal Formations Comprising It, 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.).