Oghuz District

Oghuz (Oğuz, Vardashen (Armenian: Վարդաշեն[2]) until 1991) is a rayon (administrative division, equivalent of English county) of Azerbaijan.[3] In 2016, it had a population of 43,100. The capital ist Oğuz, also Vartashen until 1991.

Qisir dag in Oguz

Oğuz
Rayon
Map of Azerbaijan showing Oghuz Rayon
Country	Azerbaijan
Capital	Oghuz
Area
• Total	1,220 km^2 (470 sq mi)
Population  (2016)
• Total	43,100
• Density	40/km^2 (100/sq mi)
Postal code	AZ 4800
Telephone code	(+994) 24[1]

Location

Oguz district is located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. The highest point of the region is Malkamud Mount (3879 m). It is the border with the Russian Federation in the north, with Gabala in the east, Sheki in the west, and with Agdash in the south.

History

The remains of a prehistoric man were found near the villages of Kerimli and Garabaglar, based on the results of archaeological excavations. Stone figurines, various tools, and household items were found here.

The district was part of the Ganja Province, which existed on April 3, 1952 - April 23, 1953. This province was abolished by the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 23, 1953. Administrative-territorial reforms were carried out in 1962–1964 in connection with the establishment of agricultural department and establishment of national economical boards in the territory of the USSR. As a result, industrial and agricultural districts were established on the basis of the large districts. On January 4, 1963, 31 districts and 7 cities were established in the Azerbaijan SSR in the territory of six towns with 50 districts. According to this decision, the city of Nukha (Shaki since 1968) was established and the villages of the district are included in Vartashen district. This reform was canceled on January 6, 1965, due to inefficiency. For this reason, villages included in Vartashen district were subordinated to Nukha. Until 1961, Vartashen village was the center of the Vartashan district. According to the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, the name of Vartashan was renamed Oguz in February 1991.[4]

Population

According to the report of the State Statistics Committee, the total number of population in 2010 was 37,000. In 2018, this indicator increased by 7,000 people.[5]

The population of regions (at the beginning of the year, thsd. persons) [5]

Regions	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Oguz region	37,0	37,3	37,7	38,1	38,4	38,8	39,3	39,6	39,9	40,2	40,5	40,9	41,3	41,7	42,1	42,6	43,1	43,5	44,0
urban population	6,5	6,5	6,5	6,6	6,6	6,7	6,8	6,9	6,9	6,9	6,9	7,0	7,0	7,0	7,1	7,2	7,2	7,3	7,4
rural population	30,5	30,8	31,2	31,5	31,8	32,1	32,5	32,7	33,0	33,3	33,6	33,9	34,3	34,7	35,0	35,4	35,9	36,2	36,6

Ethnic Groups

Ethnic group	According to the 1999 census [6]		According to the 2009 census [7]
	Number	%	Number	%
Total	36 488	100.00	40 284	100.00
Azerbaijanis	29 735	81.49	34 296	85.14
Lezgins	5 167	14.16	4 831	11.99
Meskhetian Turks	1 021	2.80	805	2.00
Russians	200	0.55	142	0.35
Jews people	179	0.49	85	0.21
Udi people	104	0.29	74	0.18
Kurds	...	...	21	0.05
Tatars	33	0.09	5	0.01
Ukrainians	17	0.05	...	...
Avars	3	0.01	...	...
Others	24	0.07	25	0.06

Monuments

There are 27 clubs including 1 district, 3 rural culture houses, Central Election Committee and its 31 branches, regional History-Ethnography Museum, H.Aliyev museum, children's music school, cultural park in Oghuz district. There are 39 historical and cultural monuments in the region, of which 32 were registered and taken under state protection, as well as included in the list of historical and cultural monuments approved by the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 2, 2001. 17 of these monuments (of which 15 are archaeological, 2 are sculptural) are of national importance, and 15 (of which 13 are sculptural, 2 are archaeological) are of local importance.[8]

See also

Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan

References

1. "Şəhərlərarası telefon kodları". Aztelekom MMC. Aztelekom İB. Retrieved 19 August 2015. (in Azerbaijani)
2. "Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, 2007".
3. "Territorial and administrative units of Azerbaijan" (PDF). Official website of the President of Azerbaijan.
4. "Oğuz Rayonunun İnzibati – Ərazi Bölgüsü Və Əhalisinin Yerləşməsi – Administrative and Territorial Division and Population Placement of Oghuz District" (PDF).
5. "Political division, population size and structure: Population by towns and regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan".
6. "1999 Census".
7. "2009 Census".
8. "Executive Authority of Oghuz district".