Staryy Oskol, city in western Russia, in Belgorod Oblast. Staryy Oskol is located along the Oskol River and its tributary, the Oskolets, about 500 km (about 310 mi) south of Moscow. The city's economy was built upon the local mining of iron ore, and metal smelting is a major industry. Factories produce mining equipment, tractor and motorcycle parts, cement, furniture, and canned goods. Staryy Oskol is located at the junction of several roads and railroads. Educational facilities include a geology training school, which supports the local mining industry, and a medical training institute.
Staryy Oskol was founded in 1593 as a fortress protecting the southern boundary of Muscovy, the early Russian state centered around what is now Moscow. It became known as Staryy Oskol in the mid-17th century. The settlement was subjected to invasions by Tatars and Poles in the 17th century. During the Russian Civil War, anti-Communist White forces led by General Anton Denikin held the city from September to November 1919. Staryy Oskol was occupied by the German army during part of World War II (1939-1945). Its population grew rapidly in the postwar period and doubled during the 1970s. Population (1995) 206,925.
