ELISAVETGRAD

elisavetgrad, a fortress and town of russia, in the government of kherson, 296 m. by rail n.e. of odessa on the balta-kremenchug railway, and on the ingul river, in 48 deg. 31' n. and 32 deg. 10' e. the population increased from 23,725 in 1860 to 66,182 in 1900. the town is regularly built, with wide streets, some of them lined with trees, and is a wealthy town, which has become an industrial centre for the region especially on account of its steam flour-mills, in which it is second only to odessa, its distilleries, mechanical workshops, tobacco and tallow factories and brickworks. it is an important centre for trade in cereals and flour for export, and in sheep, cattle, wool, leather and timber. five fairs are held annually. it has a military school, a first-class meteorological station and a botanical garden. the town was founded in 1754 and named after the empress elizabeth. the fortifications are now decayed.