Syktyvkar is the capital of the Komi Republic and its administrative and industrial centre (prior to 1930, the city was called Ust-Sysolsk), located on the left bank of the Sysola and Vychegda rivers. A churchyard in the mouth of the Sysola was mentioned for the first time in 1586. In 1780, a decree by Catherine II the locality was transformed into the city of Ust-Sysolsk. When the Komi Autonomous region (oblast) was established, Ust-Sysolsk became its capital (1921) and in 1936, it became the capital of the Komi Republic.
The city has about 40 industrial companies, about a third of which have inter-regional and nationwide importance. They include a company producing cardboard and paper products Mondi Syktyvkarsky LPK (Mondi Syktyvkar Forestry Company). Syktyvkar Tissue Group is one of the leading Russian sanitary and hygienic products companies. Syktyvkarsky Promyshlenny Kombinat (Syktyvkar Industrial Complex) is involved in building low-rise wooden housing in the Komi Republic. Komitex is a nonwoven fabrics plant. There is also Syktyvkarsky Fanerny Zavod (Syktyvkar Plywood Plant) and Syktyvkarsky Likero-Vodochny Zavod (Syktyvkar Distillery), which is the leading producer of alcoholic beverages in the republic.
In addition, Syktyvkar is one of the largest research centres in the European North of Russia. The city has about 30 specialised agencies engaged in research and development work. One of the main research institutions in Syktyvkar is the Komi Sciences Centre of the Urals Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which comprises institutes of geology, biology, linguistics, literature and history, physiology, Arctic economic and social issues, and chemistry. Syktyvkar is home to Syktyvkar State University, Komi State Pedagogical Institute, Syktyvkar Forestry Institute and Komi Republican Academy of Civil Service and Public Administration. There are also branches of St Petersburg, Moscow, Izhevsk and Kirov universities.
Syktyvkar is the cultural capital of the republic. The city is home to the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Komi Republic, the National Music and the Drama Theatre of the Komi Republic, the Savin State Academic Drama Theatre and the Komi Republic Philharmonic. The largest state museum in the republic is the National Museum of the Komi Republic. The pride of Syktyvkar is the National Gallery of the Komi Republic. The Chernov Museum of Geology is widely known outside the Republic. The Museum of Education History of Komi and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography host interesting exhibitions.