Baksan is the administrative center of the Baksan city district of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic of the Russian Federation.

Baksan stands in the northern part of Kabardino-Balkaria, on the bank of River Baksan (the basin of Terek). It is situated 24 km to the north of Nalchik.

The city extends in the foothill zone of the republic. Its average height makes 475 meters above the sea level.

Baksan is an industrially developing city with more than 100 enterprises working in the Baksan City District. Among the largest enterprises currently present in the city there are 12 industrial, 7 building, 4 transport and communication, and 3 agricultural enterprises