The town of Tuapse is located on the Black sea coast in the valley of two rivers – Tuapse and Pauk (Spider). The word “Tuapse” is a Circassian word, meaning “two waters”, since main river of the region is born from two other rivers Chilipsi and Pshenakho.
First people appeared on the shores of the Black sea near future Tuapse over 5 thousand years ago. Ancient Greeks called this place Topsida. In the 13th century Genghis Khan’s hordes burnt all settlements of the Black sea coast. In the 15th century the Turks invaded the coast and brought Islam. Adrianople peace treaty, signed in 1829, Black sea coast from the mouth of Kuban river to the lands, where present town of Sochi is located, was retroceded to Russia.
In 1867 Black Sea district was formed, and its major part consisted of Veliaminovsky (Tuapse) region. Previous year brought to Tuapse a quarantine and customs barrier, which allowed passenger ships to enter the harbour. The Cape Kadosh appeared to be a perfect place for a beacon.
Further impulse for development Tuapse got after the road, connecting Novorossiysk and Sukhumi has been built. The road made economic life of the coast much more vivid. Entrepreneurs bought land, rooted out trees and planted vineyards and gardens. Town vicinities hosted Varvarinskoye School of Horticulture, Winegrowing and Winemaking, which gardens and vineyards covered about 105 hectares.
In the beginning of the 20th century the town showed another burst of development, which was promoted by building a railroad via Goikhtkhsky passage between Tuapse and Armavir. For a long time this railroad remained the only thread, linking the Black sea coast with the rest of Russia. Only in seventies of the 20th century second 146-km-long railroad spur extended from Tuapse to Krasnodar and Goryachy Kluch.
Construction of a coastal part of the railroad started in 1914, and the first order connected Sochi and Tuapse in 1916. Construction works were finished in the thirties, and at the same time new commercial seaport started operating. In 1916 Tuapse obtained the city status and started new development stage as a trading city. Oil refinery and shipbuilding facility were built, as well as oil pipeline, which came from the town of Grozny, supplied Tuapse with oil, and a special oil transfer pier was assembled.
During the Great Patriotic War fascist invaders tried to occupy the town to gain control over the seaport, oil pipeline, railway and highway, which in case of success would have allowed them to gain the rear of Novorossiysk defenders. After a massive defeat of Hitler troops in December 1942 no more attempts to occupy the town were performed.
After the war Tuapse citizens did their best to restore their town from the ruins. Modern Tuapse is a large industrial centre of the Black sea coast. New multi-storey buildings shelter citizens. Main industries are oil recovery, mechanic engineering, shipbuilding and maintenance, food and wood working industry. The town is also the centre of famous health resort area.