Territorial mobility of population of the town of Kashin and its rural environs during 2001–2024

The aim of the article is to identify the dynamics of territorial mobility among the permanent population of a small town and rural areas in the Kashin district of the Tver oblast (the Non-Black Earth Zone) over the past two decades. Territorial mobility is understood as an intensity of return movements of people in various directions. The study is based on large-scale surveys among permanent residents of the Kashin district in 2001 and 2024 (each survey sample represented more than 1% of the district’s total adult population). Over the two decades, the population of the district has become more mobile, which is typical for the Russian society. In 2001, the relative majority of residents was not engaged in return migrations to the regional center or Moscow, whereas two decades later, residents most frequently visit the regional center every few months and Moscow less than once a year. The variety of trips in terms of purposes and directions has increased significantly, with recreational trips becoming several times more common. The gap in territorial mobility between urban and rural dwellers has widened regarding trips to Moscow and other regions of Russia, with urban residents becoming more mobile compared to the rurals. Factors influencing the territorial mobility include gender, age, income level, and place of birth. Men are more mobile than women, and young working-age individuals (18–34 years) are the most mobile age group. In general the territorial mobility correlates positively with self-assessed income levels. Newcomers are more mobile than native residents of the district. The article hypothesizes that despite the growing mobility, the social ties between rural areas and large cities in the Non-Black Earth Zone, as expressed through the long-term return migrations, are gradually weakening.