Russian Period (1828 - 1918)
History:
As a result of the second Russian-Persian War (1826-1828), Yerevan was conquered by the Russian Empire and was officially incorporated within it by the Treaty of Turkmenchay on February 10, 1828. The first general plan of Yerevan was designed in 1854. According to this plan, the St. Hripsime and St. Gayane women’s colleges, as well as the English Park , were founded. The first printing house in Yerevan was established by Zacharia Gevorkyan in 1874 and in 1879 the first theater was opened. The first public library in Yerevan was founded in 1902. During this time, Yerevan was connected with Alexandropol (Gyumri), Tbilisi, and Julfa via railway. The first telephone communication system of the city began operating in 1913. At the beginning of the 20th century , the urban population of Yerevan was around 30,000.
As the Capital of the Armenian Oblast
Under the Russian Empire, Yerevan served as the administrative center of the Armenian Oblast (a federal unit/province), and later the Erivan (Yerevan) Governorate until 1917. Yerevan began a new stage of economic, political, and socio-cultural development. The old buildings were torn down and new ones were constructed instead.
Main Square of Yerevan, 1916