Ivanovo (Russian: Иваново, IPA: [ɪˈvanəvə]) is a city in Russia and the administrative center and largest city of Ivanovo Oblast, located 254 kilometers (158 mi) northeast of Moscow and approximately 100 kilometers (62 mi) from Yaroslavl, Vladimir and Kostroma.

Ivanovo gained city status in 1871, emerged as a major center for textile production, and began to be referred to as the "Russian Manchester".

The Uvod River, a tributary of the Klyazma, flows from north to south, dividing the city into two halves.

The city has warm summers with temperatures reaching over 30 °C and relatively cold winters with frequent snowfall.

[14] The city is first mentioned in 1561,[citation needed] when it was given to the Cherkassky princely family by Ivan IV, after the latter's marriage to Maria Cherkasskaya.

[citation needed] The modern city was created by merging the old flax-processing village Ivanovo with the industrial Voznesensky Posad in 1871.

[3] Yakov Garelin—a patron of arts, historian, manufacturer, and public figure—is considered to be the founder of the city and its second head.

[15] By the early 20th century, Ivanovo was competing with Łódź (also a part of the Russian Empire at that time) for the title of the primary textile production center of Europe.

In 1937, the city opened the Interdom - a school for children of foreign Communists, including high learning.

In addition, the severe thunderstorms also produced hail up to 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) in weight, among the heaviest hailstones confirmed worldwide.

The weaving factories BIM, BAT melange Plant and other smaller companies in the textile industry ceased to exist.

In the Soviet period, the operation of buses and coaches exercised Ivanovskoye passenger motor company (MTE) #1, and taxi station (Ivanovo MTE-2).

[23] First Workers' Settlement is rare landmark of the art of city planning from the 20s is of exceptional interest as one of earliest examples of mass, low rise standardized construction that reflects ideas of the city-garden.

In 1919, the city Komsomol (Young Communist League) organization was established, soon this movement spread all over the region.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941, Ivanovo regional Komsomol organization had already had over 100 thousand people.

New legislature and programs were launched to encourage young families, youth employment, patriotic education and support.

More than 20 per cent of young citizens take part in the youth organizations’ activities, like “IMCA – Ivanovo”, Russian Youth Union, the “Novy Rubezh”, Ivanovo city pupils’ Duma, the “Shkolny Activ Goroda” (City school activists) and many others.

In order to encourage young scientists, each year the best students are given the grant of the governor, which is a good support for gifted researches.

The deputies of the latter participate in real elections campaigns in their schools, represents the schoolchildren's interests to the municipal government, contribute to the development of youth initiatives, arrange socially topical activities, like the charity marathon “Ty nam nuzhen” (“We need you”) aimed at supporting children with disabilities.

In 2012 schoolchildren of Ivanovo supported the city's bid to the contest “The European Youth Capital 2015” and organized a flash mob and made large patchwork cloth.

As a candidate city, Ivanovo is realizing a comprehensive program for the youth development, having invited professionals of the international level.

One of the contest's objective being to strengthen interaction between local communities and the European structures, Ivanovo is increasing cooperation with international partners and investors, in order to develop its infrastructure.

Ivanovo is a youth and student center with great intellectual potential, where new ambitious ideas and projects are born and develop.

So far the municipal and regional administration with the young activists has decided to bid for the title of the European Youth capital 2015.