Tashir

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Tashir | native_name = Տաշիր | pushpin_map = Armenia | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Flag|Armenia}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Administrative divisions of Armenia|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Lori Province|Lori]] | leader_title = Mayor | established_title = Established | established_date = 1844 | area_total_km2 = 5.6 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2022 Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=2623|title=The Main Results of RA Census 2022, trilingual / Armenian Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia|website=www.armstat.am|access-date=2025-04-18}}</ref> | population_as_of = [[Census in Armenia|2022]] | population_total = 7,424 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = 7,300 | pop_est_as_of = 2023 | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="Jan2023"/> | timezone = [[Armenia Time|AMT]] | utc_offset = +4 | coordinates = {{coord|41|07|28|N|44|16|55|E|region:AM|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = 1,500 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 2101 | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2/2 | image1 = Tashir with view of church and Culture House.jpg | image2 = Saint Sargis Church, Tashir (8).jpg | image3 = Fidayi Monument in Tashir (2).jpg | image4 = The Small Prince in Tashir (4).jpg | image5 = Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Tashir) 12.jpg }} | image_shield = Coat of arms of Tashir.jpg }}

'''Tashir''' ({{langx|hy|Տաշիր}}) is a town and urban municipal community located in [[Lori Province]] at the north of [[Armenia]]. It is located {{convert|42|km|abbr=on}} north of the provincial centre [[Vanadzor]] and {{convert|154|km|abbr=values}} north of the capital [[Yerevan]]. As per the January 2023 official estimate, the population of Tashir was around 7,300.<ref name="Jan2023">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=Permanent Population Figures of the Republic of Armenia as of 1 January 2023 |url=https://armstat.am/file/article/population_01_01_23.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614021723/https://armstat.am/file/article/population_01_01_23.pdf |archive-date=2023-06-14 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia}}</ref>

== Etymology == Tashir was first mentioned by the Armenian historian [[Movses Khorenatsi]] in his 5th-century monumental work ''[[History of Armenia (book)|History of Armenia]]'' as one of the cantons of the lords of [[Gugark]].

== History == Historically, the area of modern-day Tashir was included in the [[Tashir (historical region)|Tashir canton]] of the historical [[Gugark]] province, the 13th province of [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Greater Armenia]]. With the Arab invasion of Armenia in 654, the region was granted to the [[Bagratid dynasty of Armenia|Bagratid dynasty]], who founded the [[Bagratid Armenia|Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia]] later in 885. It was the location of a major [[Battle of Tashir|battle]] in 1040, part of the [[Shaddadid–Armenian wars]]. <ref>{{cite journal |last=Bedrosian |first=Robert |title=Armenian Military History and the Battle of 1040 |journal=Journal of Armenian Studies |volume=22 |issue=3 |year=1985 |page=121 |url=https://archive.org/details/rbedrosian_gmail_Aeba/page/n121}}</ref> [[File:Jorgat harasm.gif|thumb|left|The [[Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget]] at the beginning of the 11th century]] The region became a prominent centre of the Armenian culture and scholars under the rule of the Zakarid princes of Armenia. However, after the Mongols captured [[Ani]] in 1236, Zakarid Armenia turned into a [[Mongol Armenia|Mongol protectorate]] as part of the [[Ilkhanate]]. After the fall of the Ilkhanate in the mid-14th century, the Zakarid princes controlled over Tashir until 1360 when they fell to the invading Turkic tribes.

After suffering from the invasion of [[Aq Qoyunlu]], [[Kara Koyunlu]], [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] and Persians from the 14th to 18th centuries, most of the territories in northern Armenia were annexed from Qajar Persia in favour of the [[Russian Empire]] In 1801. The region of Tashir became officially part of the Russian Empire at the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] signed on 24 October 1813 between Imperial Russia and [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar Persia]]. [[File:Tashir town image.jpg|thumb|Tashir]] The newly-established settlement was named Vorontsovka (Воронцовка) after the [[Caucasus Viceroyalty (1844–81)|Viceroy of the Caucasus]] [[Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://historyam.ru/index/gorod_tashir/0-74 |title=History of Armenia |access-date=2011-01-31 |archive-date=2017-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003224556/http://historyam.ru/index/gorod_tashir/0-74 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1846, it was included in the [[Borchaly uezd]] of the [[Tiflis Governorate]].

In 1935, during the Soviet rule, the settlement was renamed ''Kalinino'' after the Russian Bolshevik revolutionary leader [[Mikhail Kalinin]] and was called. In 1961, Kalinino was granted the statues of an [[urban-type settlement]] to become the centre of ''Kalinino raion''. In 1983, it was granted with the status of a town.<ref>[https://www.dasaran.am/apps/wiki/view/id/7657 Tashir community, Lori Province]</ref>

With the independence of Armenia in 1991, the town was renamed Tashir after the historic Tashir canton of [[Gugark]], and was eventually included within the Lori Province formed as per the 1995 administrative reforms of independent Armenia.

== Geography == [[File:Achkasar2.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Achkasar]] at the west of Tashir]] Situated at the northern part of Lori plain, Tashir is located on the shores of Tashir river, at an elevation of 1500 meters above [[sea level]].<ref>[http://tashircity.org/%D5%B4%D5%A5%D6%80-%D6%84%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%84%D5%A8/ Our Town] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526010041/http://tashircity.org/%D5%B4%D5%A5%D6%80-%D6%84%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%84%D5%A8/ |date=2015-05-26 }}</ref> The town is surrounded with black prairies, [[Alpine tundra|alpine meadows]] and many marshes. The town is dominated by the [[Javakheti Range|Javakheti range]] of the [[Caucasus Mountains|Lesser Caucasus]] from the west. [[Mount Achkasar]] which is the highest point of the range with a height of {{convert|3,196|m|sp=us}}, is located {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} west of Tashir.

The town is characterized with a [[continental climate]], with an average temperature of {{convert|−4.3|C}} in January, and {{convert|17|C}} in July. The annual precipitation level is about {{convert|770|mm|abbr=on}}.

{{Weather box |location = Tashir (1991-2020) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes | precipitation colour = green | Jan record high C =15.0 | Feb record high C =15.4 | Mar record high C =23.3 | Apr record high C =25.7 | May record high C =27.4 | Jun record high C =29.8 | Jul record high C =34.6 | Aug record high C =32.7 | Sep record high C =29.7 | Oct record high C =27.5 | Nov record high C =22.0 | Dec record high C =19.1 | year record high C = | Jan mean C =-4.3 | Feb mean C =-3.4 | Mar mean C =1.1 | Apr mean C =6.1 | May mean C =10.6 | Jun mean C =14.5 | Jul mean C =17.0 | Aug mean C =17.0 | Sep mean C =13.0 | Oct mean C =8.3 | Nov mean C =2.0 | Dec mean C =-2.2 | year mean C = | Jan record low C =-33.6 | Feb record low C =-30.8 | Mar record low C =-23.8 | Apr record low C =-16.0 | May record low C =-6.4 | Jun record low C =-2.4 | Jul record low C =0.1 | Aug record low C =-0.4 | Sep record low C =-6.5 | Oct record low C =-10.5 | Nov record low C =-25.8 | Dec record low C =-27.8 | year record low C =

|source 1 =NOAA<ref>{{cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Tashir-37618 |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Armenia/CSV/Tashir_37618.csv |website=ncei.noaa.gov |format=CSV |publisher=[[NOAA]] |access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref> }}

== Demographics == {{Historical populations |1886|2284 |1897|3076 |1926|4042 |1939|4245 |1959|4766 |2001|9538 |2011|7773 |2022|7424 |align=none|percentages=pagr|graph-pos=bottom|source=<ref>{{Cite Republic of Armenia Settlements Dictionary}}</ref>}}

Currently, the majority of the population in Tashir are ethnic [[Armenians]] who belong to the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]], regulated by the [[Diocese of Gougark]], based in [[Vanadzor]]. The town's Surp Sarkis Armenian Apostolic church was built between 1995 and 2000 through donations from businessman [[Samvel Karapetyan (businessman)|Samvel Karapetyan]] and his brother Karen.<ref>[https://hetq.am/arm/news/65830/ekexecashinutyuny-norankakh-lorium-karapetyanner-valeri-mejlumyan-vladimir-movsisyan-ev-urishner.html Churches of Lori Province]</ref> There is also a tiny community of followers of the [[Armenian Catholic Church]].

The healthcare is served through the Tashir Medical Center.<ref>[https://tashir-bk.fo.ru/ Tashir Medical Center]</ref>

== Culture == The area of modern-day Tashir was probably settled during the early [[Bronze Age]]. A cyclopean fortress, as well as an ancient cemetery dating back to the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC respectively are found near the town. The remains of a 10th-century church are also visible in the town. Nowadays, Tashir is home to a cultural center, 3 public libraries, as well as a music school.

== Transportation == Tashir is located on the M-3 Motorway that connects on [[Yerevan]] with [[Tbilisi]]. The town is also connected with eastern and western Armenia through the H-31 Road.

The [[Stepanavan Airport]] which is located {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of Tashir on the halfway to [[Stepanavan]], is currently under renovation and expected to be ready during 2018.

== Economy == The majority of the residents of Tashir are involved in industry, mainly the production of canned food and dairy. The town is home to a Swiss cheese factory that produces the cheeses Lori and Chanakh. It was one of the largest plants for dairy products in the [[Soviet Union]].

However, the majority of the inhabitants are employed in agriculture. 32% of the lands are privatized, 71% of which are arable lands and 29% of which are pastures. Half of the state importance lands is {{convert|1660|ha|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://lori.mtad.am/about-communities/470/ About the community of Tashir]</ref> The lands are also used as arable farms and meadows, which cover {{convert|951|and|581|ha}}, respectively. Other agricultural products and activities include grain, melons and gourds, potatoes and fruits, cattle-breeding, pig-breeding, poultry farming and bee-keeping.

Currently, the town is mainly suffering from its outdated network of regional roads, the sewage system and the water supply network.

== Education == Tashir has 3 public education schools as well as many kindergartens. In 2015, the number of the students in the town reached up to 1186.<ref>[http://tashircity.org/%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%A9%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6/ Education in Tashir] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307052852/http://tashircity.org/%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%A9%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6/ |date=2016-03-07 }}</ref>

However, among the main problems of the community are the outdated school buildings and complexes.

== Sport == There are two sport schools in the town mainly dedicated to individual sports including wrestling, weightlifting, martial arts and chess. There is also a regular-sized football training filed in the town.

As of 2015, the number of children attending the sport schools is around 120 children.<ref>[http://tashircity.org/%D5%BD%D5%BA%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%BF/ Sport in Tashir] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307052855/http://tashircity.org/%D5%BD%D5%BA%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%BF/ |date=2016-03-07 }}</ref>

== Notable people == * [[Samvel Karapetyan (businessman)|Samvel Karapetyan]], [[Armenians in Russia|Armenian-born Russian]] businessman and owner of ''Tashir Group''{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} * [[Amar Suloev]], was an Armenian mixed martial artist.

== References == {{Commons category|Tashir}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Populated places in Lori Province]] [[Category:Tiflis Governorate]]