Abay (town)
Abay
Абай Abai | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 49°37′52″N 72°51′14″E / 49.63111°N 72.85389°E | |
| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Region | Karaganda Region |
| District | Abay District |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Re-Named and Re-Classified as a "City" | 1961 |
| Government | |
| • Akim (mayor) | Sabit Ospanov |
| Population (1 Jan 2009) | |
• Total | 25,550 |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (ALMT) |
| Postal code | 100100-100130 |
| Area code | +7 331 31 |
Abay (Kazakh: Абай, Abai) is a town (since 1961) located in central Kazakhstan, and has served as the capital of Abay District in Karaganda Region since 2002. Population: 25,550 (2009 census results); 33,066 (1999 census results).
Abay was founded in 1949 as a coal mining settlement with the name Sherubay-Noora (Kazakh: Шерубай-Нұра, Şerubai-Nūra; Russian: Чурубай-Нура, Churubay-Nura). In 1961, it was renamed Abay, after Abay Qunanbayuli, a Kazakh poet, composer and philosopher.