The road leading from central Königsberg to Mittelhufen was known first as Kaiser-Wilhelm-Damm in honor of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
After the abdication of the House of Hohenzollern in 1918, the road was renamed to Hansaring and the prominent square nearby to Hansaplatz, honoring the city's participation in the Hanseatic League from 1339-1579.
While most of central Königsberg was destroyed during World War II, the northern suburban area around the square survived intact.
The Kaliningrad Severny railway station, formerly the Königsberg Nordbahnhof built in 1930, is a business centre.
Kaliningrad State Technical University is located in the former provincial court, while the FSB have offices in the former police headquarters.