Chuy Region


Chuy Region or Chui Region is the northernmost region of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is bounded on the north by Kazakhstan, and clockwise, Issyk Kul Region, Naryn Region, Jalal-Abad Region and Talas Region. Its administrative center is Bishkek, but from 2003 to May 2006 it was Tokmok.

Geography

The main northwest part of the region is flat, a rarity in Kyrgyzstan. This is the valley of the Chu River. The valley's black soil is very fertile and is largely irrigated with water diverted from the Chu River. The region's Agricultural production includes wheat, maize, sugar beets, potatoes, lucerne, and various vegetables and fruits.
The Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains form the southern border of the region, and the northern border of Talas Region. There are many hiking and trekking routes accessible from the towns in the valley. The southwestern heel of the region over the Kirgiz Alatau is geographically more like Naryn Region.
The northeast panhandle is the Chong Kemin Valley.

History

In 1926, the region became part of the newly established Kirghiz ASSR. During the Soviet period, various agro-processing and other industries were established throughout the province, giving rise to a number of urban centers such as Tokmok, Kant and Kara-Balta.

Economy

Agricultural production includes wheat, maize, sugar beets, potatoes, lucerne, and various vegetables and fruits. There is little industry in the region.

Transport

The main east-west transportation axis of the region is the Taraz-Bishkek-Balykchy highway, running through most major cities of the region. This road's section west of Bishkek is part of European route E40, known locally as Highway M-39. The same numbers apply to the road that continues north-east from Bishkek toward Almaty, crossing the Chuy River and leaving the region for Kazakhstan at Korday border crossing.
The only railway in the region runs along the same Taraz-Bishkek-Balykchy route; it sees comparatively little use these days.

Socioeconomic indicators

As of 2009, Chuy Region included 4 towns, 5 urban-type settlements, and 331 villages. Its population, according to the Population and Housing Census of 2009, was 790,438. The Region's estimated population was at 959,884 in the beginning of 2020.

Ethnic composition

The population is considerably more heterogeneous than that of the other regions of the country, with many ethnic Russians, Ukrainians, Dungans, Koreans, Germans, etc.
According to the 2009 Census, the ethnic composition of Chuy Region was:
Ethnic groupPopulationProportion of Chuy Region population------------------------------------------------------
Kyrgyzs59.1%
Russians20.8%
Dungans6.2%
Uygurs1.9%
Uzbeks1.8%
Kazakhs1.6%
Turks1.4%
Ukrainians1.4%
Azerbaijanis1.3%
Tatars0.8%
Germans0.7%
Kurds0.6%
Koreans0.5%
Tajiks0.3%
Lesgins0.3%
Dargins0.2%
Karachays0.2%
Chechens0.2%
other groups0.7%

Districts

Chuy Region is divided administratively into 8 districts, and the district-level city of Tokmok: The Chuy District surrounds the city of Tokmok. The Alamudun District surrounds the city of Bishkek, which however is not part of Chuy Region but a province-level administrative unit in its own right. The southwestern heel is administered as two exclaves of Jaiyl and Panfilov Raions, Panfilov having a valley to the southeast and Jaiyl the mountains to the north, west and southwest. Raions below are listed from east to west.
DistrictCapitalPopulation
Kemin DistrictKemin41,924
Chuy DistrictChuy44,753
City of TokmokTokmok53,087
Ysyk-Ata DistrictKant131,503
Alamüdün DistrictLebedinovka147,208
Sokuluk DistrictSokuluk158,137
Moskva DistrictBelovodskoye83,641
Jayyl DistrictKara-Balta90,348
Panfilov DistrictKayyngdy 39,837

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