Stavropol Krai

Circassians in Stavropol Krai

The modern-day Russian region of Stavropol Krai covers parts of the historical Circassian lands in its southern regions bordering Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and parts of Krasnodar Krai, which was formerly populated by Circassians before the 1860s. Of the historical settlements in the region, today there remain only two Circassian settlements that are home to the small Orthodox Christian Circassian community. The same community is also found in the city of Mozdok in North Ossetia-Alania which was founded in 1763 in Eastern Circassia, Kabarda.

Due to its close proximity and the presence of such cultural, commercial and educational centers as Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk, which lie only a few miles beyond the borders of the neighbouring Circassian republics, Stavropol does attract Circassian migrants that brings the number of Circassians in the Krai to around 10.000.