Kozmodemyansk

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Kozmodemyansk (Russian: Козьмодемья́нск; Hill Mari: Цӹкмӓ, Cÿkmä; Meadow Mari: Чыкма, Čykma) is a town in the Mari El Republic, Russia, located at the confluence of the Vetluga and the Volga Rivers at 56°20′12″N, 46°34′16″E. Population: 22,771 (2002 Census); 24,746 (1989 Census).

In the ancient times there was an important Mari wooden fortress and trading place located on the same place controlling Jul (Volga) and Vetluga confluence. It was also an important resting place for the fur traders from the North which travelled along the river to Itil (Volga) Bulgaria. It flourished at least to the Mongol Invasion in 1236-1242.

Kozmodemyansk is the administrative center of Gornomariysky District of Mari El. It was founded by Tsar Ivan IV in 1583 after his conquest of Kazan in 1552 and Cheremis Wars in 1553-1557, 1582 and 1592 as a frontier fortress to guard the Muscowites new borders against continuous furious Kozla Mari warriors attacks. The town was named after Sts. Cosmas and Damian. For many years there was nothing at the location besides a streltsy fortress. As the Volga route was established, a town gradually grew around the fortress, but the region remained largely populated by the Mari people. The town had a fair famous for wooden and wicker ware goods produced by local craftsmen. The town was very active during summer, but winters brought halt to river traffic. In the 20th century the town developed industrially. In 1913 the population was 5.500 of which more than half Kukuk Maris. By the time of Imperial Russia Kozmodemyansk was more important trading place along Volga than Vasilsursk and Cheboksary. It was a typical halfway "overnight" stop for Volga river steamers between Nizhni Novgorod and Kazan.

In 1918 there was a dispute between Mari and Chuvasian representantives of the Kozmodemjansk in Idel Ural Movement. It was not decided to which proposed state (Mariland or Chuvasia / Chuvasstan) the town, as well as the surrounding country side, should be merged. Few rare mentions which have remained, show that eventually Volga was to become the border between Chuvasia and Mariland with large cultural and political autonomy (as example taken of the political status and education system of the Grand Duchy of Finland in the Russian Empire), to the Kukuk Mari minority on the south side of Jul (Volga) in Chuvasia.

A local museum was opened in 1919 which now contains paintings by many Mari and Russian masters. A regional museum to preserve artifacts of the Mari culture was opened in 1979. An open-air ethnographic museum opened in 1983. It contains over sixty varied buildings typical of Mari culture. They house over 2,000 exhibits of artisan craft and tools. Even the variety of fences around the grounds display typical Mari designs.