Ethnical composition of population of new parts of Russian Turkestan cities

An active migratory movement to Central Asia marked the second half of the19th century. A considerable part of migrants settled in old Central Asian cities establishing a separated new or Russian part. The ethniccomposition of the migrated population was very different. The most numerous group included Russian migrants (among them Ukrainians,Byelorussians). Also large diasporas were made up by Tatars, Poles, Jews, Germans, Armenians and Greeks, as well as by foreigners.The number of migrants increased year after year. So in the period from 1871 to 1897, the number of Tatars in new Tashkent increasedby 26,5 times, of Jews  by 21 times, of Germans  by 20 times and of Poles  by 122.5 times. Among the residents of the Russianpart in Central Asian cities were officials, military men, employees and workers, entrepreneurs and businessmen, people of scienceand art. Bulks of Tatars were busy in the sphere of trade and small-scale production; many of them were skilled workers. The Jews occupiedthe leading positions in the economy of Central Asia and were the main initiators in distribution of Russian goods in CentralAsia. A lot of military and officials, representatives of intellectual labour were among the Germans. Initially, Russian power foundskilled workers among Armenians, especially using them for the railway construction. But over time merchants, entrepreneurs, craftsmenappeared among the Armenians. Firstly, persons, who did military service and settled in the region, formed the Polish community.Then officials, teachers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, engineers, skilled workers and craftsmen joined them. The Greeks achievedgreat success in the economic sector; office workers were also among them. The Russian administration did not put any obstacles to theirresettlement at first, but later it accepted that the Tatars were competitors who exerted cultural impact on the local population; it also recognizedthe Jews to be its competitors in trade and financial issues. Migrants of different ethnic communities living within borders of the newcity preferred to settle in quite compactly in separated quarters and streets. So they could recreate their usual way of life, linguistic and culturalenvironment. But in spite of the difference in faith and nationality, the situation specificity of migrants from Russia living in MuslimCentral Asia forced them to recognize their unity. In general, they preferred to get together in contrast to local residents whom they treatedquite carefully. However, there were no limits for local inhabitants and they could also settle in the Russian part.

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