Chervonohrad (Ukrainian: Червоноград) is a city located in the Lviv Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. The city is designated as a separate raion (district) within the oblast. It about 62 km north of Lviv and 7 km from Sokal. The population numbers 83,600 inhabitants.
Prior to 1953, the city was known as Krystynopol (Ukrainian: Кристинопіль, translit. Krystynopil’). The German name for it was Krisnipolye. The city is known for mining that started in the 1950s. It passed from Poland to USSR after the territory exchange in 1951.
Municipality of Chervonohrad also includes the town of Sosnivka and the settlement of urban type Hirnyk.
Increase in the number of inhabitants:
- 1939 - circa З,000 inhabitants
- 1959 - 12,000 inhabitants
- 1970 - 44,000 inhabitants
- 1977 - 53,000 inhabitants
- 1983 - 62,000 inhabitants
- 2008 - 83,600 inhabitants
Since 1951 the city became the center of newly emerged coal mining basin. Other enterprises, besides the mining works:
- plant of iron-beton products
- wood processing plant
- dairy
- tailoring factory
- stockings factory
- Branch of Lviv National Polytechnic University
- Mining College
In May 1685 royal hetman, Kraków Voivode Feliks Kazimierz Potocki, bought himself a new piece of land - over the river of Western Bug. In 1692 he founded city on the lands of the village Novyi Dvir (literally New Garden, Polish Nowy Dwór), which he named after the wife of the magnate, Krystyna (maiden last name Lubomirski, 1661-1699). Potocki developed this city making Krystonopil his family center. Here he also died September 22 1702. His grandson Franz Salezy Potocki built a palace and founded (1763) monastery of Basilians (barocco church of Saint George; prior to 1946 р. - mircale place with wonder icon of Mother of God).
In the 19th century in Krystynopil was kept "Krystonopil Apostol" and famous chronicle from 1763-1779, that was republished in print several times.
The Catholic order of Myrrh-bearing Sisters were founded in 1910 in Chervonohrad (then Krystynopol) by Fr. Yulian Datsii. The congregation was founded to gather the funds to build a home for orphans and the poor. The first members of the congregation vowed to build two buildings: one for the people, one for the congregation. In 1913 the first convent arose, 15 sisters lived there.
Among the landmarks of the city is Count Potocki Palace - palatial home of count Potocki.
Presently there are 11-100 Jews residing in Chervonohrad. The earliest known Jewish community dates back to 1740. In 1931 the Jewish population was 2200. The Jewish cemetery dates from 18th century with the last known Hasidic burial in 1941. Chervonohrad Jews had been deported to the death camp in Belzec in September, 1942. The Jewish last name and rabbinical family Kristinopoler / Kristianpoller stem from the former name of the city - Krystynopol. Jewish immigrants to America from this city founded Krystenopoler Synagogue and First Krystenopoler Sick Benevolent Association Brith Isaac in New York. From Chervonohrad stem the Jewish descendants of Shlomo Turteltaub, who was born in Chervonohrad (then Krystynopol), circa 1900. This Jewish family branch is composed of two sub-branches: the Canadian and the Israeli. The Jewish cemetery is located in the town centre, at Shevs'ka Street.
