Historians argue about several possible dates of Kurgan foundation, however, most credible date is 1662. During centuries the town was many times destroyed by nomads, massive fires burnt buildings, but Kurgan was reconstructed every time.
Census records of 1710 reported 456 inhabitants of Kurgan suburbs. The settlement quickly became a military fortress, which protected Russian territories from attacks of aggressive nomads. In the middle of the 18th century the fortress was surrounded with triple ring of fortifications, and its garrison with almost one thousand soldiers and 28 cannons was the largest among all settlements near the Tobol River.
More and more territories were explored; borders of the Russian Empire went southwards and eastwards, and Kurgan fortress finally lost its defensive status and started developing as administrative and trade centre of the region. In 1782 Catherine the Great ordered to establish two regions: Tobolsk and Tomsk, and Kurgan district went under Tobolsk, at the same time acquiring the city status after 120 years of its foundation. In 1785 the new city was granted the coat-of-arms.
Located far enough from the centre of Russia, Kurgan was the place, where various criminals were exiled. Decembrists lived in Kurgan since 1830. After suppression of the Polish riot (1863-1864) Kurgan welcomed more exiles – 93 Polish patriots came here to live. Russian economic magazines of 19th century gave following description of Kurgan: the town had only 1127 houses and 7376 inhabitants, not to forget about 3493 exiles. First train arrived to Kurgan from Chelyabinsk in 1893, and first car appeared 20 years after. In 1914 first power plant provided the town dwellers with electricity, and two cinemas (“Progress” and “Lira”) started to entertain citizens the same year. The progress could not be stopped, and telephone communication soon appeared in Kurgan.
When the railroad connected Kurgan with the rest of the country, the town became important from economic point of view. Industrial enterprises, which belonged either to local businessmen or foreign monopolies, were built in Kurgan. Workers’ share of population grew significantly, and ideas of Marxism were in the air. In 1903 social democrats formed local society, in which they discussed economic and political aspects of life in Russia. Revolution of 1905 was not a surprise for them. Before the revolution of 1917 the city had over 49 industrial enterprises and about 40 thousands of inhabitants, a public library, secondary schools and health facilities.
When communists acquired power, the city started growing rapidly. In late thirties of 20th century about 50 thousand people dwelled in Kurgan. Rapid development continued during hard times of the World War II. The city took in 15 industrial enterprises and about 20 thousand people from western parts of the country. City dwellers worked devotedly and provided necessary things for military and civil purposes.
In the fifties of the 20th century more large industrial enterprises were built in Kurgan. The city confirmed its status of important industrial junction. Kurgan authorities cared about the citizen, that’s why they paid attention to green areas of the city, recreation and sports.