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Mestechki of Minsk Gubernia


Copyright © 2000 Michael Steinore

Introduction

The table below is extracted from the Spisok Naselennykh Myest Minskoi Guberniy gazetteer published in 1909 (LDS microfilm # 1923576). It displays all (113) towns with the administrative designation mestechko from an original list of over 14,000 settlements in Minsk Gubernia. A mestechko was the settlement type most synonymous with a shtetl. Many Jews in Minsk Gubernia lived in these mestechki (plural), though they certainly lived in settlements with other administrative designations too, primarily the gorod (city) and selo (village). Therefore it's an incomplete extraction, with no attempt to record all shtetlekh.

Of these 14,000 settlements in the gazetteer, the vast majority of Jews lived in only a small percentage of them. You can narrow the possibilities for your ancestor's town of origin by learning the settlement types, in addition to employing traditional search methods. [See the article 'Don't settle for 'shtetl' in the JGSGB newsletter Shemot Vol. 8 No. 2 for more on that.]

For each mestechko, the table provides 11 of the 17 items of information in the original gazetteer although the 11th, settlement type, is implicit since all of these towns are of the same type (mestechko). The 6 items omitted are police district #, nearest town for postal mail and distance, nearest town for telegram and distance, and distance to the capital city Minsk.

While this gazetteer was published in 1909, the data may be from this date or some years earlier. All of the information presented here is in the context of the 1909 timeframe.

Column Notes

Name

The name of the mestechko transliterated from Russian. Therefore look for 'g', not 'h', and 'v', not 'w' (e.g. Glusk, not Hlusk). I transliterate the Cyrillic 'e' as 'ye' only if at the very beginning or end of a name.

Town names in general are usually not unique. Even within this short table of the larger settlements in Minsk Gubernia there are a few towns with the same name, usually in different districts. What you can't see is that for most of the towns in the table there were multiple settlements with the same or very similar name, but with administrative designations other than mestechko. Online gazetteers and maps may show some or all of these multiple occurrences of a town name and a location for each, but without knowing the settlement type, resolving to the right one can be difficult.

As is sometimes done in modern directories, if a mestechko has a two-word name, it may be a transposition of the actual name. For example in this gazetteer, New York might be listed as York New.

Uezd

The abbreviation for the uezd (administrative district - like a county) in which the mestechko is located:

  • Bb => Bobruisk
  • Br => Borisov
  • Ig => Igumen
  • Mn => Minsk
  • Mz => Mozyr
  • Nv => Novogrudok
  • Pn => Pinsk
  • Rch => Rechitsa
  • Sl => Slutsk

    Volost

    The volost (contiguous cluster of dozens of settlements - like a township) in which the mestechko is located. Volost names are provided in declined form without the contextual grammatical ending. The volost name is based on the town that is the Volost capital. If the mestechko name is the same as the volost name, a common occurrence, this means the mestechko was the volost's capital/administrative center.

    Closest railway station

    The town with the closest railway station to the mestechko. There were few railway lines, therefore the nearest railway station is not necessarily in the same volost or uezd as the mestechko, nor even in Minsk Gubernia. This column and the next may suggest possible emigration routes.

    rl - Railway Line

    The abbreviated name of the railway line servicing the closest railway station:

  • LR => Libavo-Romenskaya railway line (Libau-?)
  • MB => Moskovsko-Brestskaya railway line (Moscow-Brest)
  • N => Nikolaevskaya railway line
  • P => Polesskiya railway line

    The railway line for the city of Minsk was not given in the original gazetteer, apparently because two railway lines serviced Minsk station, the LR and MB. (Baranovichi was also served by two lines, though). See the Minsk Gubernia district map from about the same time period, and note the alternating black and white segments which form the railway routes.

    d(rs) - Distance to Railway Station

    The distance in viorsts from the mestechko to the listed railway station. All table distances are in viorsts. 1 versta is 0.662 miles.

    Pop. - Population

    The population of the mestechko. Based on this table, the average population of a mestechko was 2,034. If the population of the mestechko is very low, it might be somewhat misleading because there may be other settlements listed with the same name at the same location, but of a different administrative type. Apparently, in these cases, the mestechko was simply a specific section of a larger town area, but listed separately in the gazetteer. The total population of all towns in the table is about 230,000, a little less than the combined populations of the 9 uezd (district) cities.

    d(Uezd) - Distance to Uezd capital

    The distance in viorsts from the mestechko to the Uezd capital (district city) of the district in which it was located. The 9 district cities of Minsk Gubernia correspond with the nine districts: Minsk, Pinsk, Rechitsa, Borisov, Bobruisk, Slutsk, Novogrudok, Mozyr, and Igumen. There were two (for lack of a better term) special status gorods Nesvizh and Dokshitsy. The data for these 11 cities are not in the table because they have the administrative designation 'gorod'.

    d(Vol) - Distance to Volost capital

    The distance in viorsts from the mestechko to the Volost capital of the volost in which it is located. '--' indicates the distance is 0.

    #(hms) - Number of Homesteads

    The number of distinct homesteads in the mestechko. The average living density (population divided by # homes) of the towns in this table is about 7 people per home.

    How to read the table

    Here's an interpretation example using the mestechko of Berezino: Berezino is located in Pogostskaya volost, within the uezd (district) of Igumen. The closest railway station is 65 viorsts away in Borisov, served by the MB railway line. Berezino has a population of 4,264, is located 43 viorsts from Igumen, 10 viorsts from Pogost and has 619 homesteads. All this as of the stated time period.

    Accuracy and compleness - The original gazetteer could have mistakes in it. I could have made transciption mistakes. The likely errors, if any, would be missing a mestechko or mispelling a name because the legibility of the microfilmed gazetteer is generally quite poor. If you have a good reason to believe I missed a mestechko let me know, however, as explained above, there was no attempt to extract every 'shtetl'.

    The table is in Russian-alphabetical order of mestechko name. Also available is the same table, sorted by uezd (district), then by English-alphabetical mestechko name.


    Name

    uezd

    volost

    closest rlwy stn

    rl

    d(rs)

    pop.

    d(uezd)

    d(vol)

    #hms

    Baranovichi

    Nv

    Novo-Myshsk-

    Baranovichi

    MB

    0

    9777

    54

    5

    950

    Berezino

    Ig

    Pogostsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    65

    4264

    43

    10

    619

    Bobovnya

    Sl

    Telyadovichsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    35

    196

    42

    4

    28

    Bogushevichi

    Ig

    Yakshitsk-

    Osipovichi

    LR

    55

    224

    30

    10

    50

    Bragin

    Rch

    Braginsk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    106

    3902

    109

    --

    387

    Beloruch'ye

    Mn

    Beloruchsk-

    Minsk

    --

    25

    154

    25

    --

    28

    Voinovka

    Pn

    Kukhotskovol'sk-

    Yukhnovichi

    P

    61

    240

    82

    11

    37

    Volya Svyataya

    Pn

    Svyatovol'sk-

    Kosovo

    P

    18

    643

    60

    --

    114

    Vselyub

    Nv

    Vselyubsk-

    Neman

    P

    21

    1330

    12

    --

    6

    Vyzna

    Sl

    Vyznyansk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    63

    1825

    28

    --

    265

    Gaina

    Br

    Gaino-Slobodsk-

    Vitgenshteinskaya

    MB

    35

    889

    56

    3

    116

    Galubichi

    Br

    Dokshitsk-

    Podsvil'ye

    N

    4

    104

    135

    30

    21

    Glusk

    Bb

    Glusk-

    Bobruisk

    LR

    47

    6680

    47

    --

    870

    Govezno

    Sl

    Goveznyansk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    9

    216

    79

    1

    25

    Gorvol

    Rch

    Gorvol'sk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    31

    1618

    29

    --

    167

    Gorodishchye

    Nv

    Gorodishchsk-

    Baranovichi

    P

    20

    2900

    35

    --

    245

    Gorodnaya

    Pn

    Terebezhovsk-

    Goryn

    P

    23

    6278

    99

    18

    ?

    Gorodok

    Bb

    Gorodkovsk-

    Bobruisk

    LR

    31

    578

    31

    --

    75

    Gorodok

    Mn

    Semkovo-Gorodetsk-

    Minsk

    --

    14

    430

    14

    --

    49

    Gorodok Ostroshitskiy

    Mn

    Ostroshitsko-Gorodetsk-

    Kolodishchi

    MB

    15

    617

    21

    --

    154

    Gresk

    Sl

    Gresk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    59

    1519

    16

    --

    273

    Grozovo

    Sl

    Grozovsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    57

    1032

    21

    --

    177

    David-Gorodok

    Mz

    Khorsk-

    Lakhva

    P

    22

    13217

    185

    2

    1386

    Delyatichi

    Nv

    Lyubchansk-

    Neman

    P

    35

    1614

    23

    5

    229

    Dukora

    Ig

    Dukorsk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    11

    1444

    35

    --

    251

    Yel'sk-Karolin

    Mz

    Karolinsk-

    Mozyr

    P

    43

    910

    31

    --

    167

    Yeremichi

    Nv

    Yeremichsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    33

    1240

    39

    --

    172

    Zaslavl

    Mn

    Zaslavsk-

    Izyaslavl

    LR

    0.25

    608

    25

    --

    110

    Zembin

    Br

    Zembinsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    30

    1189

    25

    --

    123

    Ivenets

    Mn

    Ivenetsk-

    Izyaslavl

    LR

    36

    2767

    59

    --

    425

    Ishkol'dz

    Nv

    Gorodeisk-

    Pogorel'tsy

    MB

    10

    606

    59

    15

    143

    Kazimirovo

    Bb

    Stepsk-

    Krasnyi-Bereg

    LR

    5

    541

    36

    15

    53

    Kalinkovichi

    Rch

    Dudichsk-

    Mozyr

    P

    1.5

    2022

    77

    6

    196

    Kamen

    Mn

    Ivenetsk-

    Izyaslavl

    LR

    42

    980

    65

    6

    110

    Kletsk

    Sl

    Kletsk-

    Pogorel'tsy

    MB

    22

    7468

    63

    --

    579

    Klichev

    Ig

    Dolzhansk-

    Bobruisk

    LR

    50

    2550

    75

    30

    117

    Kozhan-Gorodok

    Pn

    Kozhan-Gorodetsk-

    Lakhva

    P

    5

    2963

    104

    --

    532

    Koidanov

    Mn

    Koidanovsk-

    Koidanov

    MB

    2

    4696

    40

    --

    518

    Komarin

    Rch

    Iolchansk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    140

    614

    140

    7

    104

    Kopatkevichi

    Mz

    Kopatkevichsk-

    Ptich

    P

    18

    2510

    58

    --

    440

    Kopyl

    Sl

    Potseikovsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    40

    5968

    38

    9

    1178

    Kopelichi

    Nv

    Kopelichsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    39.5

    3752

    21

    --

    375

    Krasnoluki

    Br

    Krasnoluksk-

    Borisov

    MB

    56

    615

    52

    --

    94

    Krivoshin

    Nv

    Krivoshinsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    21

    523

    84

    --

    75

    Kroshin

    Nv

    Stvolovichsk-

    Pogorel'tsy

    MB

    10

    1380

    57

    10

    156

    Lapichi

    Ig

    Pogorel'sk-

    Tal'ka

    LR

    13

    695

    40

    10

    98

    Lakhva

    Mz

    Lakhovsk-

    Lakhva

    P

    2

    2876

    173

    --

    455

    Lel'chitsy

    Mz

    Lel'chitsk-

    Koptsevichi

    P

    82

    1216

    79

    --

    170

    Lenin

    Mz

    Leninsk-

    Mikashevichi

    P

    16

    1019

    162

    --

    196

    Lipsk

    Nv

    Krivoshinsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    26

    1154

    89

    5

    176

    Logishin

    Pn

    Logishinsk-

    Pinsk

    P

    28

    3351

    28

    5

    565

    Logoisk

    Br

    Logoisk-

    Vitgenshteinskaya

    MB

    28

    1469

    45

    --

    250

    Loev

    Rch

    Loevsk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    57

    5466

    57

    --

    761

    Losha

    Ig

    Slob.-Pyrashevsk-

    Negoreloye

    MB

    35

    270

    90

    7

    70

    Lyuban

    Bb

    Zabolotsk-

    Urechye

    LR

    18

    2048

    100

    --

    339

    Lyubeshov

    Pn

    Lyubeshovsk-

    Yukhnovichi

    P

    49

    978

    70

    --

    147

    Lyubonichi

    Bb

    Lyubonichsk-

    Berezina

    LR

    21

    489

    21

    1

    64

    Lyubcha

    Nv

    Lyubchansk-

    Novogrudok

    P

    44

    3752

    23

    --

    437

    Lyady

    Ig

    Smilovichsk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    27

    66

    24

    6

    10

    Lyakhovichi

    Sl

    Lyakhovichsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    7

    1106

    84

    --

    211

    Medvedichi

    Sl

    Medvedichsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    5

    841

    82

    --

    131

    Mir

    Nv

    Mirsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    15

    5381

    45

    --

    518

    Mogil'no

    Ig

    Mogil'nyansk-

    Negoreloye

    MB

    21

    1070

    110

    --

    184

    Mysh Novaya

    Nv

    Novo-Myshsk-

    Baranovichi

    MB

    6

    3862

    49

    --

    320

    Narovl

    Rch

    Narovlyansk-

    Mozyr

    P

    46

    1528

    120

    --

    162

    Negnevichi

    Nv

    Negnevichsk-

    Novogrudok

    P

    41

    581

    18

    --

    97

    Nobel

    Pn

    Morochansk-

    Yukhnovichi

    P

    46

    1765

    53

    10

    202

    Ozarichi

    Bb

    Ozarichsk-

    Mozyr

    P

    42

    2025

    95

    --

    230

    Okolovo

    Br

    Prusevichsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    52

    221

    49

    11

    41

    Parichi

    Bb

    Parichsk-

    Krasnyi-Bereg

    LR

    30

    4485

    47

    --

    520

    Pesochno

    Ig

    Mogil'nyansk-

    Negoreloye

    MB

    28

    1714

    120

    10

    271

    Petrikov

    Mz

    Petrikovsk-

    Koitsevichi

    P

    21

    8882

    60

    --

    994

    Pleshchenitsy

    Br

    Pleshchenitsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    55

    881

    52

    --

    120

    Pobolovo

    Bb

    Turkovsk-

    Krasnyi-Bereg

    LR

    6

    532

    44

    12

    112

    Pogost-Zagorodskiy

    Pn

    Pogost-Zagorodsk-

    Parokhonsk

    P

    12

    668

    49

    --

    105

    Pogost-Zarechnyi

    Pn

    Morochansk-

    Yukhnovichi

    P

    54

    656

    68

    15

    120

    Pogost

    Ig

    Pogostsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    75

    1605

    53

    --

    229

    Pogost

    Sl

    Pogostsk-

    Urechye

    LR

    21

    793

    31

    --

    154

    Polonka

    Nv

    Novo-Myshsk-

    Zherbilovka

    P

    3

    495

    49

    13

    56

    Pukhovichi

    Ig

    Pukhovichsk-

    Pukhovichi

    LR

    8

    2225

    32

    --

    418

    Rakov

    Mn

    Rakovsk-

    Izyaslavl

    LR

    17

    4960

    35

    --

    740

    Romanovo

    Sl

    Romanovsk-

    Urechye

    LR

    47

    1481

    23

    --

    260

    Rubezhevichi

    Mn

    Rubezhevichsk-

    Negoreloye

    MB

    18

    1102

    58

    --

    144

    Samokhvalovichi

    Mn

    Samokhvalovichsk-

    Fanipol

    MB

    10

    477

    18

    --

    61

    Sverzhen

    Mn

    Sverzhensk-

    Stolptsy

    MB

    5

    2432

    77

    --

    487

    Svisloch

    Bb

    Svislochsk-

    Osipovichi

    LR

    30

    1970

    40

    --

    190

    Semezhevo

    Sl

    Kievichsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    46

    2513

    38

    3

    458

    Sinyavka

    Sl

    Sinyavsk-

    Lyakhovichi

    P

    11

    869

    68

    --

    168

    Skrygalovo

    Mz

    Slob.-Skrygalovsk-

    Ptich

    P

    8

    1284

    34

    14

    204

    Smilovichi

    Ig

    Smilovichsk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    21

    3335

    27

    --

    454

    Smolevichi

    Br

    Smolevichsk-

    Vitgenshteinskaya

    MB

    0

    1017

    37

    --

    118

    Snov

    Nv

    Snovsk-

    Pogorel'tsy

    MB

    6

    465

    70

    --

    115

    Starobin

    Sl

    Starobinsk-

    Urechye

    LR

    39

    1773

    35

    --

    280

    Stvolovichi

    Nv

    Stvolovichsk-

    Baranovichi

    P

    10

    858

    47

    --

    95

    Stolin

    Pn

    Stolinsk-

    Goryn

    P

    6

    4709

    70

    --

    471

    Stolptsy

    Mn

    Stolpetsk-

    Stolptsy

    MB

    0.5

    1454

    76

    --

    209

    Telekhany

    Pn

    Telekhansk-

    Pinsk

    P

    52

    1120

    52

    --

    230

    Timkovichi

    Sl

    Timkovichsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    38

    1680

    40

    --

    328

    Turets

    Nv

    Yeremichsk-

    Zamir'ye

    MB

    34

    1893

    34

    5

    363

    Turov

    Mz

    Turovsk-

    Zhitkovichi

    P

    28

    6431

    135

    --

    675

    Uzda

    Ig

    Uzdensk-

    Negoreloye

    MB

    21

    1939

    105

    --

    318

    Uzlyany

    Ig

    Perezhirsk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    10

    868

    54

    7

    105

    Urechye

    Bb

    Gorkovsk-

    Urechye

    LR

    1

    175

    89

    14

    60

    Khoiniki

    Rch

    Khoiniksk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    16

    2891

    65

    --

    338

    Kholmech

    Rch

    Kholmechsk-

    Rechitsa

    P

    29

    913

    29

    --

    167

    Kholopenichi

    Br

    Kholopenichsk-

    Krupki

    MB

    28

    2196

    50

    --

    255

    Kholun

    Ig

    Pogorel'sk-

    Osipovichi

    LR

    20

    561

    55

    18

    74

    Khotaevichi

    Br

    Pleshchenitsk-

    Borisov

    MB

    62

    322

    59

    7

    61

    Tsirin

    Nv

    Tsirinsk-

    Pogorel'tsy

    MB

    21

    624

    35

    --

    110

    Chernyavka

    Br

    Velyatichsk-

    Priyamino

    MB

    24

    434

    39

    12

    85

    Shatsk

    Ig

    Shatsk-

    Rudensk

    LR

    28

    2350

    73

    --

    240

    Es'mony

    Br

    Es'monsk-

    Slavnoye

    MB

    35

    421

    82

    --

    66

    Yurevichi

    Rch

    Yurevichsk-

    Mozyr

    P

    30

    2600

    92

    --

    270