Rostov-on-Don was founded in 1749 on the right bank of the Don River, in 65 kilometers from its inflow into the Azovskoye Sea. Due to its favorable geographical location on the crossroads of the land and water roads, the economics in Rostov developed rapidly; soon it was called the merchants` city. In the middle of the XIX-th century 15 thousand people lived there, and by the XX century the population increased to about 110 thousand people. By the end of the 30-ies it was one of the largest cities of the Soviet Union in population and in the level of economic development. During the Great Patriotic War Rostov was laid in ruins, buildings of the theatres, schools, hospitals, clubs, institutes were burned. Thousands of people were shot, exhausted or captivated. The people had to completely restore Rostov-on-Don and the city became even more attractive than before.
