Michurinsk (Russian: Мичу́ринск) is the second most populous town in Tambov Oblast, Russia. Population: 98,758 (2010 Census); 96,093 (2002 Census); 109,081 (1989 Soviet Census)
Originally known as Kozlov (Козло́в), its origin in a small monastery, founded in the forest in 1627. It became a settlement in 1635 at the northern end of the emerging Belgorod Line, a frontier defense line. A 25-kilometer (16 mi) earthen wall was built eastward across the open steppe effectively blocking the Nogai Trail, a Tatar raiding route. The success of this line led to the building of further lines further south. The settlement was granted town status in 1779.
Situated on the highway to Astrakhan and at the head of water communication with the Don, the town soon became a centre of trade.
The town was renamed Michurinsk in 1932 after the biologist Ivan Michurin, who had developed a genetic laboratory and agricultural testing fields in the Tambov region, dedicated to pomology (the study of fruit growing) and selection.
