[9] An ancient Finno-Ugric Meri trading settlement and a wooden hill fortress once existed on the site of modern Manturovo, at the confluence of the Unzha and Mezha Rivers.

The name means Mantu = Podzol, Rova = higher place in sparsely coniferous forest.

Finno-Ugrian Rova derives from Saame (Sami) word Roavve which means hill or open place as result of forest fire.

Since then it has developed from quiet country village railway station to a forest industry center including a big plywood factory.

A Finnish forest company has plans to open a big modern forest industry center to Manturovo, nearly a billion euro investment, if Russian government guarantee its legal ownership according to the WTO standards.