The Yaroslavl urban area is the administrative centre of the Yaroslavl Region and the Yaroslavl District. The city's population is 606,300 (January 1, 2009 estimate). Founded in the 11th century, Yaroslavl is also one of the oldest Russian cities. It blossomed in the 17th century and celebrates its millennial anniversary in 2010.
Yaroslavl is a major economic and cultural centre of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation. The city's historical centre at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers is a UNESCO world heritage site, and the Yaroslavl is traditionally one of the most important tourist attractions on Russia's famous Golden Ring.
The city is a major transport hub, where railways and roads leading to Moscow, Vologda, Rybinsk, Kostroma and Kirov converge. Yaroslavl also has a river port and an airport.
The city has an area of 205 square kilometres, and is divided into six districts: Dzerzhinsky, Zavolzhsky, Kirovsky, Krasnoperekopsky, Leninsky and Frunzensky.
Yaroslavl is also a major industrial centre, and is the location of an oil refinery owned by the Slavneft- Yaroslavlnefteorgsintez company (YANOS), a tyre factory, an engine factory, an electrical locomotive repair plant, a railway car repair facility, a facility for producing electricity generating equipment, a shipyard, a pharmaceutical factory and many other industrial enterprises. The city also has many light industrial facilities (such as factories that produces felt footwear, textiles and haberdashery, as well as a sewing factory), food processing facilities (a dairy factory, etc.), the Balkan Star tobacco factory and a furniture factory.
Tourism also plays an important role in the city's economy. Yaroslavl is traditionally considered one of the cities on Russia's famous Golden Ring, and tourism received another major boost when the city centre was recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site.