The social composition and native lands of the first settlers of the Chelyabinsk fortress (according to the population census of 1739-1740)

In the 18th century the Russian Empire continued to experience intensive colonization processes, with new territories and new ethnic groups being included in it, the territorial and administrative structure being transformed, and more effective ways of administering new territories being sought. In the Southern Urals, territorial and administrative units, such as districts and provinces emerged, which were novel for Russia, whereas the existing ones were strengthened and new military formations, including irregular (Cossack) ones, were created. This was facilitated by the intensive activity of the Orenburg Expedition, which occurred in the atmosphere of the Bashkir uprising of 1735-1740. Due to the efforts of the expedition’s leadership, fortresses were founded, which were built along the route of food convoys to the construction site of Orenburg. The fortresses housed army garrisons, irregular troops and peasants, who were transferred to the Cossacks, forming the core of the permanent residents of these fortresses. One of them was the Chelyabinsk fortress. In 1739-1740, a census of residents was conducted in the Chelyabinsk fortress. The census indicated the heads and members of families, class affiliation, age, places of previous residence, and the payment of the capitation tax. Based on the published census materials, the article examines the social composition of the first residents of the Chelyabinsk fortress who were registered as Cossacks, the places of birth of the heads of the families and single people who did not have a family, and their routes to the Chelyabinsk fortress.