Daugavpils

Location

Daugavpils is located on the Western Dvina River, in South Eastern Latvia.

Population

approx 130,000 (est 1993)

Economic Activity

The city is a major commercial and rail transport junction. Major industries include: lumber, food products, electric machinery, and textiles.

Overview

Daugavpils was founded in 1278 by the Livonian Knights and became a strategic fortress. In 1561 it was passed to the combined kingdom of Lithuania and Poland. During the First Partition of Poland, in 1772, the city was ceded to Russia and flourished as a trade center until World War I. It was formerly known by its Russian name, Dvinsk (1893 to 1920).