Bila Tserkva
Bila Tserkva (Ukrainian: Бі́ла Це́рква [ˈbilɐ ˈtsɛrkwɐ] ⓘ; lit. ''White Church'') is a city in Central Ukraine, located on the Ros river in the historical Right Bank region. The largest city in Kyiv Oblast (the territory of Kyiv, the regional capital, doesn't belong to the oblast), it serves as the administrative centre of Bila Tserkva Raion and Bila Tserkva urban hromada and has a population of 207,273 (2022 estimate)..
Bila Tserkva
Біла Церква | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Bila Tserkva Location of Bila Tserkva Bila Tserkva Bila Tserkva (Ukraine) | |
| Coordinates: 49°47′56″N 30°06′55″E | |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Oblast | Kyiv Oblast |
| Raion | Bila Tserkva Raion |
| Hromada | Bila Tserkva urban hromada |
| Founded | 1032 |
| Magdeburg Rights | 1589 |
| Government | |
| • Head of City Council | Gennadii Dykyi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 67.8 km2 (26.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 178 m (584 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 207,273 |
| • Density | 3,100/km2 (7,900/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 09100-09117 |
| Area code | (+380) 4563 |
| Vehicle registration | AI/10 |
| Sister cities | Barysaw, Jingzhou, Kaunas, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Kremenchuk |
| Website | http://bc-rada.gov.ua/ |
The oldest preserved document that mentions the city, at that time called Yuryiv, is the Ipatiev Chronicle (1115). Historically, it has been the centre of Porossia (River Ros) region. Founded as a border fortification of Kyivan Rus, Bila Tserkva later became property of Polish nobility and served as a prominent commercial centre. Since the 19th century, industry and tourism have been important elements of the city's economy. Under Soviet rule Bila Tserkva became a centre of agricultural education. During the Cold War an major base of the Soviet Air Force was located near the city.
In independent Ukraine, until 2020 Bila Tserkva served as a city of regional significance. In the aftermath of the administrative reform, it became the centre of one of hromadas (communities) of Kyiv Oblast.