Leninakan

Leninakan is the former name of the city of Gyumri, the second-largest city in Armenia. Located in the northwestern part of the country, within the Lori Province, the city lies on the slope of Mount Aragats and is approximately 48 kilometres northwest of the capital, Yerevan. <br><br>During the Soviet period, the city was renamed Leninakan in 1924 to honour Vladimir Lenin, reflecting the Soviet practice of rebranding urban centres after revolutionary figures. The name remained in use until 1990, when the soviet legacy was rolled back and the historic Armenian name Gyumri was restored through a public referendum. <br><br>As of the latest census, Leninakan (Gyumri) has a population of around 140,000 residents. Its economy historically centered on metallurgy, machinery manufacturing, and light industry, with surrounding cultivation of wheat and cherries. The 1988 Spitak earthquake caused widespread damage, leading to significant reconstruction efforts overseen by both local and international partners. <br><br>Leninakan also played a role in Armenia's national movements; it was the site of the 1961 People's Liberation Meeting, which is considered a precursor to the 1991 independence referendum. The city hosts the Gyumri Ararat Hotel, the largest odic building in the region, and the National Museum of Gyumri, which chronicles its Soviet and post‑Soviet history. The continuity of the city's Soviet-era moniker in historical records remains an important reference point for scholars studying Armenia’s transition during the late twentieth century.