CANTON

CANTON,

1) military unit in the canton administration system in Russia. Established by the Decree of April 10th 1798. They were established based on territorial subdivision; divided into Yurts (Bashkir and Mishar C.) and Regiments (Cossack); often the territory of one volost was divided between several C. They were headed by Canton Chiefs, whose domicile was the canton centre (headquarters). C. had no names and differed by serial numbers. On the historical territory of Bashkortostan there were 23 C.: 11 Bashkir, 5 Mishar, 5 Orenburg and 2 Urals Cossacks. In 1803, the number of Bashkir C. equaled 12, in 1832 — 13, in 1855 — 28, in 1863 — 11 (their borders were similar to those of uyezds). Abolished in July 1865 (ref. Administrative and Territorial System).

2) Administrative and territory unit in Russia between 1920—30s. By the decision of the 3rd All‑Bashkir Kurultay (Congress) in December 1917, the territory of the autonomous Bashkortostan was divided into 9 C. and 73 volosts. Following signing of The Agreement of the Central Soviet Power with the Bashkir Government on the Soviet Autonomous Bashkiria, the territory of the Republic was divided into 13 C. (Argayashsky, Burzyan‑Tangaurovsky, Dzhitirovsky, Duvansky, Kipchaksky, Kudyeysky, Kushchinsky, Tabynsky, Tamyan‑Kataysky, Tok‑Churansky, Usergansky, Yurmatynsky, Yalansky) and 135 volosts. C. were divided into volosts and selo councils. Administration executed by the Executive Committee (until 1920 — by the Canton Military Revolutionary Committee, appointed by Bashrevkom), which reported to Bashkir Central Executive Committee (until the mid. 1920s — to Bashrevkom). In July 1919, Dzhitirovsky and Kipchaksky C. were united into Kipchak‑Dzhitirovsky C. In September, Duvansky and Kushchinsky — into Duvan‑Kushchinsky C. In January 1921, Sterlitamaksky C. was established. In 1922, the BASSR territory was divided into 8 C. (Argayashsky, Belebeyevsky, Birsky, Zilairsky, Mesyagutovsky, Sterlitamaksky, Tamyan‑Kataysky, and Ufimsky) and 290 volosts (by 1926, there were 111 volosts). Burzyan‑Tangaurovsky, Duvan‑Kushchinsky, Kipchak‑Dzhitirovsky, Kudyeysky, Tabynsky, Tok‑Churansky, Usergansky, and Yurmatynsky C. were abolished.Yalansky C. was transferred to Chelyabinsk Guberniya. In August 1930, C. were liquidated in the BASSR because of the introduction of administrative raions (districts).