[2] Russian Empire (Bessarabia) 1821–1856 Principality of Moldavia 1856–1859 Romania 1859–1878 Russian Empire (Bessarabia) 1878–1917 Moldavian Democratic Republic 1917–1918 Kingdom of Romania 1918–1940 Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR) 1940–1941 Kingdom of Romania 1941–1944 Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR) 1944–1991 Ukraine 1991–present Bolhrad was founded in 1821 by Bulgarian settlers in Bessarabia, under the direction of General Ivan Inzov who is "revered" by Bolhrad residents as the "Founder of Our City.

"[3] Bolhrad became part of Moldavia from 1856 to 1859, Romania from 1859 to 1878, 1918 to 1940, and 1941 to 1944, before being incorporated into the USSR (in the territory of the Ukrainian SSR), and later independent Ukraine.

[citation needed] In 1897, the ethnic make-up, by mother tongue, was 68.9% Bulgarian, 11.3% Russian, 9.7% Jewish, 5.0% Moldavian/Romanian, 2.5% Ukrainian, 1.0% Turkish, and 0.8% Polish.

[5] As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, Bulgarians still constitute the largest ethnic group in the city, accounting for almost half of the population.

[6][7] According to the 2001 census, there was no language spoken by the majority of the population, which was composed of speakers of Russian (48.7%), Bulgarian (32.65%), Ukrainian (13.92%), Gagauz (2%) and Romanian (1.15%).