Urzhum

a city and the administrative center of Urzhum Raion, Kirov Oblast, RSFSR. Situated on the Urzhumka River near its confluence with the Viatka, Urzhum is 160 km northwest of the Viatskie Poliany railroad station on the Kazan-Agryz line. The Kirov-Viatskie Poliany highway passes through Urzhum.

Urzhum was originally a Mari settlement. It became a Russian fortress in 1584, a district capital in Viatka Province in 1796, and the administrative center of Urzhum Raion in 1936. The city’s industries include food processing and the manufacture of building materials and wood products. There is also a poultry farm and a sovkhoz where fruit plants are raised for transplantation. Educational institutions include a zooveterinary technicum and a medical school. The S. M. Kirov Memorial House-Museum is in Urzhum (Kirov was born in Urzhum and spent his childhood in the city).