Toropets

a city and center of Toropets Raion, Kalinin Oblast, RSFSR. Situated at the point where the Toropa River flows into Lake Solomeno. Station on the Bologoe-Velikie Luki railroad line. Population, 17,000 (1974).

Toropets became known in 1074 as a city in the Smolensk Principality. In 1167 it became the center of an independent principality, and in the mid-14th century it became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1503, Toropets became part of the Muscovite state. In the early 17th century it was destroyed by the Poles. It became part of Izhora Land in 1708 and a district center of Pskov Province in 1777. Soviet power was established in Toropets on Oct. 30 (Nov. 12), 1917. Since 1935 the city has been part of Kalinin Oblast. From Aug. 29, 1941, through Jan. 21, 1942, Toropets was occupied by fascist German troops.

Toropets has a meat-packing plant, a creamery, and a distillery. Other enterprises include a repair plant, a furniture factory, and a foundry, as well as garment and footwear factories. Among the city’s educational and cultural institutions are an agricultural technicum and a museum of local lore.

In the second half of the 18th century, a regular plan was adopted for Toropets. The city’s architectural monuments include the Nikol’skaia Church (1666–69), the Kazan Church (1698–1765), the Church of St. John the Baptist (1703), the Church of the Epiphany (1764), the Church of Pokrov (1777), and residential buildings from the mid-18th to the first half of the 19th century.