KIGINSKY RAION

KIGINSKY RAION, located in the NE of the RB. Established on August 20, 1930 as Verkhne‑Kiginsky Raion. It included some volosts of Mesyagutovsky Canton. Since September 20, 1933 has its current name. Abolished on February 1, 1963, territory became part of Salavatsky Raion. Newly established on January 13, 1965. Territory — 1,688 km2. Adm. centre — Selo Verkhniye Kigi, which is located 250 km NE of Ufa and 43 km NW of the Suleya Railway Station (Chelyabinsk Obl.). Population — 17.0 thous. people (2017).

In 2018, the area of agricultural lands amounted to 93 thous. ha (55.1% of the total area), including arable lands — 43.1, hayfields — 25.5, pastures — 24.4; forest area — 53.4 and surface waters — 1.0. Agricultural enterprises [3 APCs, MUP, 7 OOOs, 100 peasant (farmer) farms] specialize in the cultivation of grain, forage crops, potatoes and dairy cattle breeding. Vegetable growing, horse breeding, poultry farming, and bee-keeping are well‑developed. On the territory of the raion, there are: OOO Myasnye Traditsii (Meat Traditions), a bakery, etc. Highways Birsk—Mesyagutovo—Satka (Chelyabinsk Obl.) and Maloyaz—Verkhniye Kigi— Novobelokatay—Unkurda (Chelyabinsk Obl.) cross the territory.

There are: Multidisciplinary College; 18 general education and 5 pre‑school educational institutions; a school of arts, a youth’s sports school, House of Pioneers and Schoolchildren; a central hospital and 2 rural hospitals, 25 medical and obstetrical centers; 24 clubs, 22 libraries, and a local history museum. In the raion, there are 9 folk amateur art groups.