Orenburg

Orenburg, a town of European Russia, stands on the river Ural, by rail 727 miles ESE. of Moscow. Founded (1743) as a frontier fortress, it is now of importance for its commerce only; it imports cotton, silk-stuffs, cattle, hides, &c. from Bokhara, Khiva, and Tashkent. Corn, metals, sugar, woven goods are the principal exports. The town possesses an arsenal and two military schools. Pop. (1882) 42,123.—The government has an area of 73,794 sq. m. and a pop. of 1,198,360, of very mixed races, Bashkirs (246,000) and Cossacks (229,000) predominating.