Small Towns of Novosibirsk Oblast

Introduction . The study addresses the challenges of small towns in Russia, using the Novosibirsk region as a case study. The aim of this work is to assess the dynamics of ethno-social, ethno-demographic, and ethno-cultural processes in small towns of the Novosibirsk region amid high migration activity and ongoing transformations of the regional community at the turn of the 20 th - 21 st centuries. Materials and methods. The study is based on data from the All-Russian Population Censuses of 2002, 2010, and 2020, as well as field materials collected during an ethno-sociological survey conducted in 2025 in the towns of the Novosibirsk region. The analysis also draws on expert interviews and official regulatory documents, including the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 and regional development programs for small towns. Results . The study has shown that small towns, with their historically multi-ethnic population, continue to play a key role in maintaining the ethno-demographic stability of the region. However, they face a number of socio-economic and demographic challenges. The ethnic composition of their population has undergone substantial changes in recent decades, reflecting broader migration trends and shifts in ethnic self-identification. Conclusion . The prospects for these municipalities depend on the integrated development of socio-economic and socio-cultural infrastructures, alongside the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, which in turn reinforces ethno-local and regional identities.

cultural heritage preservation · Ethnic composition · ethnic self-identification · Migration · multi-ethnic population · Novosibirsk region · regional communities · regional identity · small towns · socio-economic problems · Regional Socio-Economic Development Trends · Sociopolitical Dynamics in Russia · Soviet and Russian History