New Cities of Trans-Baikal in 1950s–1980s: Features of Formation and Development

This article explores the unique characteristics of the formation of new cities in Trans-Baikal during the 1950s to the 1980s. Based on documentary and narrative sources, three distinct groups of new urban settlements in the region are identified: transport, resource-based, and young cities. The main stages of their emergence and development are examined, alongside an analysis of their economic structures. The authors argue that the primary factors driving the formation of new cities in TransBaikal were industry and transportation. It is emphasized that the designation of urban status for these settlements depended on the strategic significance of industrial facilities and prospects for economic development. The study concludes that transport cities developed a mixed economic sector, which helped mitigate the crisis during the transition to a market economy. In contrast, mining centers exhibited a mono-profile economic structure focused on meeting sectoral interests. It is demonstrated that most new resource-based cities in Trans-Baikal faced stagnation and crisis at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. Notably, young cities, due to their later establishment and unique demographic characteristics, retained a high potential for diversifying their mono-profile economies.