Wikipedia

Kentron District

Kentron (Armenian: Կենտրոն վարչական շրջան, romanized: Kentron varch’akan shrjan), is one of the 12 districts of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It comprises the downtown, the commercial centre of the city. As of the 2022 census, the district has a population of 119,841.[1]

Kentron
Կենտրոն
Kentron District
Kentron District
Kentron district shown in red
Kentron district shown in red
Kentron is located in Armenia
Kentron
Kentron
Coordinates: 40°10′41″N 44°30′47″E / 40.17806°N 44.51306°E / 40.17806; 44.51306
CountryArmenia
Marz (Province)Yerevan
Area
 • Total
13.35 km2 (5.15 sq mi)
Elevation
995 m (3,264 ft)
Population
 (2022 census[1])
 • Total
119,841
 • Density9,000/km2 (23,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4 (AMT)

Kentron is bordered by Ajapnyak and Malatia-Sebastia districts from the west, Shengavit and Erebuni districts from the south, Nor Nork District from the east and Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun districts from the north.[2] Hrazdan River flows through the western part of the district.

Etymology

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The word kentron literally means "centre" in Armenian, and has the same etymological root as the English word, ultimately from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron, "centre"). Its Western Armenian cognate is getron (Armenian: կեդրոն).

Overview

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The district is unofficially divided into smaller neighborhoods such as Kond, Noragyugh, Pokr Kentron, Nor Kilikia, Kozern and Aygestan.

Kond and Noragyugh are among the 7 original neighbourhoods of old Yerevan.

Parks:

  • English Park.
  • Children's Park
  • Abovyan Children's Park and Railway
  • Tsitsernakaberd Park
  • Circular Park
  • Lovers' Park
  • Martiros Saryan Park
  • Komitas Park
  • Shahumyan Park
  • Missak Manouchian Park

History

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The administrative building of Kentron district
 
Poplavok lake at the Circular Park

After Armenia fell under Soviet rule between 1920 and 1921, Yerevan became the first among the cities in the Soviet Union for which a general plan was developed. The "General Plan of Yerevan" developed by the academic Alexander Tamanian, was approved in 1924. It was initially designed for a population of 150,000. The city was quickly transformed into a modern industrial metropolis of over one million people. New educational, scientific and cultural institutions were founded as well.

Tamanian incorporated national traditions with contemporary urban construction. His design presented a radial-circular arrangement that overlaid the existing city and incorporated much of its existing street plan. As a result, many historic buildings in the centre (modern-day Kentron district) of Yerevan were demolished, including churches, mosques, the Safavid fortress, baths, bazaars and caravanserais.

Within the years, Kentron has become the most developed district of Yerevan, something that created a significant gap compared with other districts in the city. Most of the educational, cultural and scientific institutions were centred in the Kentron district. It also became home to administrative buildings of Armenia, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly of Armenia, the Central Bank of Armenia, the National Security Service and most of the ministry buildings.

Demographics

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Religious buildings and historical sites:

 
Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church

Culture

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The National Gallery of Armenia
 
Cafesjian Museum of Art at the Yerevan Cascade

Entertainment and recreation:

 
Moscow Cinema

Transportation

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Fountains at the Republic Square metro station

Kentron district is served by a public transport network of buses and trolleybuses.

 
Abovyan Street
 
Place de France, with the statue of Jules Bastien-Lepage at the centre

Economy

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Industrial plants:

 
Yerevan Brandy Company

Education

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Educational institutions:

 
State Engineering University of Armenia

Sport

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The Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan
 
The Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan
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Panoramic view of Kentron district
 
Panoramic view from the Kentron district (from left to right): The City Hall clock tower, Ardshinbank (foreground), Glendale Hills residential buildings (background), the Yerevan Ararat Brandy Factory tower, the Russian Embassy, the Mountains of Ararat in the overall background.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Main Results of RA Census 2022, trilingual / Armenian Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia". www.armstat.am. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  2. ^ Kentron District at Yerevan.am
 
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