Founded in 1586, Tyumen became the first Russian town in Siberia. Originally established as a Russian fort post, today the City of Tyumen has a population over 500,000. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Tyumen became an important trade center on the routes to Central Asia, China and Persia, as well as an important leather goods and handcraft-making town.
Oil was discovered in the Tyumen region in 1948, and in the 1960s and 1970s the oil industry became a vital component of the city’s economy. Today Tyumen is an important center for the gas and oil industries in Russia. Companies such as UTair Airlines, Gazprom, LUKoil and Yukos have much of their activities located in Tyumen. Due to their location on the Trans-Siberian railway, Tyumen is a major transfer point for river and rail freight.
Business ties between Houston and Russia are strong. More than 900 Houston companies are actively involved in business trade with the Eastern European region. Over 30 Houston-based companies also have subsidiaries in Russia.
In 2009 trade between Russia and the Houston-Galveston Customs District was valued at more than $6.4 billion. The Houston-Galveston Customs District is also Russia’s largest U.S. trade partner.
Fast Facts:
Population: 600,000
Country: Russia
Continent: Europe
Latitude & Longitude: 57˚15’ N, 65˚53’ E
GMT Time Difference: + 5
Time Difference from Houston: + 11
Distance from Houston: 6325 miles/ 10180 km
Climate: The climate is continental, characterized by rather severe snowy winters, warm summers and short transitional seasons. The average temperature in the coldest month of January is -17.8 Degrees Celsius, while the average in the warmest month of July is +17.2 Degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures are in the -50 Degrees Celsius area and the highest temperatures around +40 Degrees Celsius. Winter in Tyumen lasts from November to March.
Language: Russian
Governmental Structure: the Head of the City is a Mayor who serves for a four year term.
Current Mayor: The Honorable Sergey Smetanyuk, Mayor of Tyumen
Other Sister Cities: N/A
Additional Information:
City of Tyumen Website
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston