Kuznetsk is a Russian city (from 1780) in the Penza Region, the administrative center of the Kuznetsk municipal district.

Kuznetsk is the second-largest and important city of the Penza Region.

The city with the population of 86 155 people (as of 2014) takes the area of 42 sq km.

It is located in the central part of the Volga Hills, on the banks of River Truyov (influx of River Sura), 121 km to the east of Penza. It is a big railway station.

History of Kuznetsk

It was founded as the village of Truyevo on the bank of River Truyov at the end of the 17th century. The Resurrection (Voskresenie) Church was built in the village in 1699 and the village was renamed into Truyovo-Voskresenskoye in its honor. In the 18th century it was named Naryshkino after the last name of its landowner.

In 1780 it became a district town of the Saratov Province and due to its well-developed smithcraft was renamed into Kuznetsk (from the Russian word ‘kuznets’, i.e. blacksmith). From 1797 it was part of the Saratov Province.

In 1856 the district city of Kuznetsk of the Saratov Province had 4 churches, 1699 houses, and 122 shops.