Kola (town)

Kola (; ; ) is a town and the administrative center of Kolsky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kola and Tuloma Rivers, south of Murmansk and southwest of Severomorsk. It is the oldest town of the Kola Peninsula. Population: 10,318 (2010 est.); 11,060 (2002 Census);

History

The district of Kolo was first attested in Russian chronicles in 1264. The first documented mention of the town itself dates to 1565—Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, pp. 18–19 the area was settled by the Pomors, who built the fort of Kola.

Over time, Sweden extracted the Kola Peninsula from both Russia and Denmark-Norway in a series of wars and resulting treaties.A Short History of Finland, pp. 36–37 Claims from Denmark-Norway remained, however, and in 1582, a Russian voivode was appointed to Kola to provide for better defenses of the peninsula. The voivode governed the territory which became known as Kolsky Uyezd.

During the Russo-Swedish War of 1590–1595, the Swedes failed to capture the fort. In the 17th century, it prospered as a...
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