Kurgan, city, southwestern Siberian Russia, on the Tobol River. It is the capital of Kurgan Oblast. Located in a rich agricultural region, the city is an industrial and commercial center served by the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Manufactures include agricultural machinery and processed food. Kurgan, founded in the early 17th century, grew as an economic center in the late 19th century. The city's name, Russian for “tumulus,” or “burial mound,” refers to ancient burial mounds in the area. Population (1999 estimate) 365,400.
