The development of sociocultural infrastructure in rural localities of Tobolsk and Tomsk governorates in the early XX century: comparative analysis

DOI:

Review date:

Publish date:

Abstract: This article carries out a comparative analysis of the development of sociocultural infrastructure of rural localities in the two Western Siberian governorates – Tobolsk and Tomsk. The object of this research is the rural localities of the region, while the subject is their sociocultural infrastructure represented by religious, educational, medical care, and other institutions. The goal lies in comparative characteristics of the development of infrastructure facilities in Tobolsk and Tomsk rural localities, as well as determination of their common and specific features. The “Lists of Populated Localities” of Tobolsk and Tomsk governorates for 1903 – 1904 and 1911 – 1912 served as the key source for this research. Similar data contained in the aforementioned “Lists” allowed analyzing the statistical data on the number of localities that featured different elements of sociocultural infrastructure in two time samples, as well as tracing changes in the development of settlements in historical dynamics. The conclusion is made that in the level of sociocultural development of rural localities, Tomsk governorate was ahead of Tobolsk governorate. The author notes is a significant difference between the sociocultural development of Russian localities and settlements of the indigenous population of the region (Tatars, Khanty, Mansi, and other). The infrastructure of the indigenous population remained poorly developed. Some of them had only religious facilities, such as mosques, and schools under them. The number of religious, educational, medical care, and postal institutions in Siberian settlements was increasing; however, their network remained scarce, and the slow pace of development did not correspond to the growth rate of the settlement network of the region.