Torņakalns is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia located on the western bank of the Daugava River (neighbourhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pārdaugava). The name Torņakalns (English: Tower Hill) derives from a fortified tower built in the Middle Ages close to the Daugava River to alarm the city of Riga in case of emergency and unwelcomed intruders about to cross the river.[1] The tower does not stand nowadays.
Torņakalns was an early suburb to Riga, consisting largely of gardens and mansions. In contrast to the Soviet-built Zolitūde and Ziepniekkalns suburbs, there are plenty of gardens, parks, and monuments. Mārupes parks (eng.:Mary's Creek Park) encircles the Māras dīķis (eng.:Mary's Pond), which was once dammed by a mill. The Mārupe (eng.:Mary's Creek) then continues into Arkādijas parks (eng.:Arcadian Park), where early 20th century landscaping provides an oasis from the city.[2]
HistoryEdit
In 1940, the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and began mass deportations of Latvians who were deemed to be political and social threats to the new communist government. Because Torņakalns contained a number of affluent residents, these deportations took place at the Torņakalns railway station. Many of the mansions were confiscated, with some being divided into smaller units, and others turned to public use, including kindergartens and clinics. During World War II, the railway service between Riga and Torņakalns was suspended, following the destruction of the original railway trestle over the Daugava.
Following the war, the neighborhood experienced an influx of non-Latvian Soviet citizens, reducing the ethnic Latvian percentage of the population. In the postwar development, the railway was electrified, streetcar service was expanded, factories and a military arsenal provided jobs in the neighborhood.
Following the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, many non-Latvians left the country, and Soviet-era street names were removed. A boxcar was installed at the Torņakalns station as a memorial to the Stalinist deportations. At the same time, a Soviet victory monument on the neighborhood's northern edge remained. It remained a focal symbol for the city's Russian community and was demolished in 2022 as a symbol of Soviet re-occupation of Latvia during WWII.
The main shopping venues for local residents include the Āgenskalns tirgus (Āgenskalns Market) and Vienības Gatve. In spite of initial economic uncertainty following independence, the neighborhood has since regained its status as a garden suburb within minutes of Old Riga. Most Torņakalns residents commute to the central business district by the electric railway, which contains a large station and railyard in the neighborhood.
torņakalns, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2014,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tornakalns news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Tornakalns is a neighbourhood of Riga Latvia located on the western bank of the Daugava River neighbourhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pardaugava The name Tornakalns English Tower Hill derives from a fortified tower built in the Middle Ages close to the Daugava River to alarm the city of Riga in case of emergency and unwelcomed intruders about to cross the river 1 The tower does not stand nowadays TornakalnsNeighborhood of RigaBauskas Street in TornakalnsLocation of Tornakalns in RigaCountryLatviaCityRigaDistrictZemgale SuburbArea Total3 210 km2 1 239 sq mi Population 2018 Total7 401 Density2 300 km2 6 000 sq mi Time zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST Websiteapkaimes lv Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksOverview EditTornakalns was an early suburb to Riga consisting largely of gardens and mansions In contrast to the Soviet built Zolitude and Ziepniekkalns suburbs there are plenty of gardens parks and monuments Marupes parks eng Mary s Creek Park encircles the Maras dikis eng Mary s Pond which was once dammed by a mill The Marupe eng Mary s Creek then continues into Arkadijas parks eng Arcadian Park where early 20th century landscaping provides an oasis from the city 2 History EditIn 1940 the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and began mass deportations of Latvians who were deemed to be political and social threats to the new communist government Because Tornakalns contained a number of affluent residents these deportations took place at the Tornakalns railway station Many of the mansions were confiscated with some being divided into smaller units and others turned to public use including kindergartens and clinics During World War II the railway service between Riga and Tornakalns was suspended following the destruction of the original railway trestle over the Daugava Following the war the neighborhood experienced an influx of non Latvian Soviet citizens reducing the ethnic Latvian percentage of the population In the postwar development the railway was electrified streetcar service was expanded factories and a military arsenal provided jobs in the neighborhood Following the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991 many non Latvians left the country and Soviet era street names were removed A boxcar was installed at the Tornakalns station as a memorial to the Stalinist deportations At the same time a Soviet victory monument on the neighborhood s northern edge remained It remained a focal symbol for the city s Russian community and was demolished in 2022 as a symbol of Soviet re occupation of Latvia during WWII The main shopping venues for local residents include the Agenskalns tirgus Agenskalns Market and Vienibas Gatve In spite of initial economic uncertainty following independence the neighborhood has since regained its status as a garden suburb within minutes of Old Riga Most Tornakalns residents commute to the central business district by the electric railway which contains a large station and railyard in the neighborhood Gallery Edit nbsp The new campus of the University of Latvia in Jelgavas Street nbsp Tornakalns Railway Station nbsp Konrada Street in Tornakalns nbsp Arkadija Park nbsp Church of Luther in Tornakalns References Edit Tornakalns page on citariga lv English version Kadinsky Sergey Marupite Riga Part One Hidden Waters Blog November 25 2016External links EditTornakalns official website in Latvian 56 56 N 24 05 E 56 933 N 24 083 E 56 933 24 083 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tornakalns amp oldid 1122289157, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
