Bolhrad was founded in 1821 by Bulgarian settlers in Bessarabia, under the direction of General Ivan Inzov who is "revered" by Bolhrad residents as the "Founder of Our City."[3] Bolhrad became part of Moldavia from 1856 to 1859, Romania from 1859 to 1878, 1918 to 1940, and 1941 to 1944, before being incorporated into the USSR (in the territory of the Ukrainian SSR), and later independent Ukraine. In 1921, there was a terrorist attack on a palace in the city.[4]
The surrounding Bolhradsky district is predominantly populated by ethnic Bulgarians (a majority of 61%). Bolhrad itself is inhabited by a large number of Bessarabian Bulgarians and is considered by locals to be the unofficial capital of the Bessarabian historic district of Budjak.[citation needed]
In 1897, the ethnic make-up, by mother tongue, was 68.9% Bulgarian, 11.3% Russian, 9.7% Jewish, 5.0% Moldavian/Romanian, 2.5% Ukrainian, 1.0% Turkish, and 0.8% Polish.[5]
As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, Bulgarians still constitute the largest ethnic group in the city, accounting for almost half of the population. The second largest group are Ukrainians, closely followed by Russians. The towns also has a significant Moldovan and Gagauz population.[6][7]
Ethnic groups in Bolhrad
percent
Bulgarians
45.50%
Ukrainians
22.58%
Russians
22.51%
Gagauz
3.34%
Moldovans
2.48%
Belarusians
0.72%
Armenians
0.50%
Poles
0.10%
Jews
0.07%
Georgians
0.06%
Romanians
0.06%
According to the 2001 census, there was no language spoken by the majority of the population, which was composed of speakers of Russian (48.7%), Bulgarian (32.65%), Ukrainian (13.92%), Gagauz (2%) and Romanian (1.15%).[8] Most ethnic Ukrainians, Bulgarians and Gagauz were native speakers of the languages of their respective groups, but most ethnic Moldovans were Russian-speakers in 2001.[9]
^Манолова, Надя; Красимира Табакова (2008). "150 години Болградска гимназия" (in Bulgarian). Държавна агенция за българите в чужбина. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
^"Болградска гимназия „Свети свети Кирил и Методий"". Българска енциклопедия А-Я (in Bulgarian). БАН, Труд, Сирма. 2002. ISBN954-8104-08-3. OCLC163361648.
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