Jekabpils

(formerly Jakobstadt), a city and the administrative center of Jekabpils Raion, Latvian SSR. Situated on the Daugava (Western Dvina) River. A railroad junction (Krustpils) of lines to Rēzekne, Jelgava, Riga, and Daugavpils. Population, 22,000 (1970).

Major industries include a branch of the Riga Avtoelektropribor (Automotive Electrical Instruments Plant), a garment factory, food-processing enterprises (a sugar refinery, fruit and vegetable canneries), a plant manufacturing reinforced-concrete structural members, and a combine producing nonmetallic chemical raw materials. The city has an economics technicum and a museum of local lore. Jēkabpils was founded in 1670 and its right-bank portion in 1237; until 1962 the right-bank section was the independent city of Krustpils.