Grodno Gubernia

Map of Grodno

History and Administrative Division

The territory of the Government of Grodno was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania / of Poland-Lithuania until 1793/1795. It was an administrative unit (government) of the Russian Empire until the Russian Revolution, following which it formed part of Poland; from 1939 to 1941 and since 1944 the larger part of it is part of Belarus (until 1991 itself being part of the USSR).

Following the Third Polish Partition in 1795, Slonim Gubernia was founded, consisting of 8 uyezds: Brest, Volkovysk, Grodno, Kobrin, Lida, Novogrudok, Pruzhany, and Slonim uezd.

In 1797, Slonim and Vilna Gubernia were merged to form the Lithuanian Gubernia, centered on Vilna. In 1801, Lithuanian Gubernia was divided, Slonim Gubernia reestablished; in 1802 Slonim Gubernia was renamed Grodno Gubernia.

In 1807 the separate Bialystok region (uyezds Bialystok, Byelsk, Sokolka) was established; in 1843 Bialystok region was dissolved, Bialystok, Byelsk and Sokolka uyezds annexed into Grodno Gubernia, while the latter ceded Novogrudok Uyezd to Minsk Gubernia, Lida Uyezd to Vilna Gubernia.

Grodno Gubernia bordered on Congress Poland in the west, on Vilna Gubernia in the north, on Minsk Gubernia in the east, on Volhynia Gubernia in the south. From 1843 to 1917, Grodno Gubernia was composed of 9 uyezds (districts).

Russian Lithuanian
/ Belarusian
Yiddish Polish Towns
Bialystok
Белосток
Blastoge Byalistok
ביאַליסטאָק
Bialystok Now in Poland
Byelsk
Бельск-Подляски / Бельск
Bielsk Podlaski Bielsk
ביעלסק / בילסק
Byelsk Now in Poland
Brest-Litovsk
Брест-Литовск
Brest Brasta
בריסק
Brisk Abramova, Baranovichi, Bereza, Brest, Brest-litovski, Chernavchitsy, David-Gorodok, Domachevo, Drogichin, Gantsevichi, Ivatsevichi, Ivanovo, Kamenets, Kobrin, Kosiche Vel'ke, Lotovo, Luninets, Lyahovichi, Malorita, Medna Gmina, Pinsk, Polkotichi, Pruzhany, Rogacze, Stolin, Volchin, Vysokoye, Zamosty, Zhabinka
Grodno
Гродно
Hrodna Grodne
גראָדנע
Grodno Grodno, Indura, Kamenka, Lunna, Masty, Ozery (Yezory), Porechye, Skidel, Volpa, Vyalikaya Byerastavitsa
Kobrin
Кобрин
Kobryn Kobrin
קאָברין
Kobryn Antopol, Divin, Drahichyn, Haradzets, Ivanava, Khomsk, Kobryn, Motol, Simonovichi, Yakovleva, Zhabinka
Pruzhany
Пружаны
Pruzhany Pruzhani
פרוזשענע
Pruzana Bereza, Bludno (Pyershamayskaya), Linowo, Malech, Pruzhany, Shereshovo
Slonim
Слоним
Slonim Slonim
סלאנים
Slonim Byten, Derechin, Dvorets, Dzieciol, Dzyltlava (Zhetl), Golynka, Ivatsevichy, Kolonja Synjska, Kossovo, Molczad, Novoyelnya, Ozernitsa, Pavlovo, Ruzhany, Slonim
Sokolka
Соколка
Sakulka Sokolke
סאקאלקע
Sokolka Kolonia Izaaka, Odelsk, Sokolka
Volkovysk
Волковыск
Wawkavysk Volkavisk
וואַלקעוויסק
Golobudy, Isabelin, Lyskovo, Mstibova, Novy Dvor, Peski, Porozovo, Ros, Svislac, Vaukavysk, Zel'va

Resources for the Grodno Gubernia

Resources for Grodno Districts

Jewish Farmers

Farm Colonies

A highly significant event in the social and economic life in the Russian empire in the 19th century was the Jewish farm colonization program, which affected regions in the south, southwest, and west. It led to the creation, within a population of millions, of a very small (about 3%) social stratum of Jewish farmers who settled in agricultural colonies on crown or private land. Their existence became an integral part of the inner life of these regions, a part of the social, economic and political history of pre-revolutionary Russia, and of the present states of Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine.

This first wave of Jewish agricultural settlements included Avramowo, Ivaniki, Izraelska, Galilejska, Dovgalishok, Dubrowo, Lejbishok, Leipun, Sinajska, Pawlowa, Kurenetz and Kolonja Izaaka (possibly called Kolonja Odelsk at its inception).