An important port located on the Volga River across from Saratov, the administrative center of the oblast, it is connected to it with a bridge.

Its German inhabitants suffered persecution as Soviet authorities accused them of being spies for Nazi Germany.

On August 26, 2011, a monument in honor of the Russian-German victims of repression within the Soviet Union was unveiled in the city.

The Engelssky factory of transport mechanical engineering produces rolling stock for railways.

The Bosch-Saratov plant, previously Autotractor Spark Plugs, produces spark plugs, and the German Henkel company operates a factory producing domestic laundry detergent and chemical products for the auto-industry.