Kengarags

On the origin of this name at the moment there are two versions. The first of them is Kangara Rags (Cape Kangara) (in Latvian mythology - the spirit of betrayal that quarreled Latvian tribes). In the place where Kengarags is located, there was a cape and downstream of the river there were many islands. According to legend, it was here that "the temple of the arbiter of fate - Perkons (Perun) " was once located, and the name was given after Bishop Albert destroyed this temple and many misfortunes fell on these lands. The second version says that the name of the cape and place was given from a fisherman who once lived here in ancient times, nicknamed Kenga , which is translated from the Livonian language as “shoe, boot” .

Kengarags as a settlement was mentioned in the XVII century . During the siege of Riga during the campaign of the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1656, Russian troops were stationed here. At that time, the families of fishermen lived on the territory of these places; then, already in Peter's times, sawmills and small enterprises were opened in Kengarags. The Riga-Ogres highway opens.

In the 18th century , the Mazyumprava estate owned most of the lands of modern Kengarags, and until the middle of the 20th century agricultural lands were located here - meadows, farms, pastures. Meanwhile, with the development of industry, Riga began to expand. In 1841, the Old Believers Kuznetsov opened the Kuznetsov porcelain and faience factory known throughout Russia, which was also known for using blue clay , mined here in Kengarags. In 1861, the first Riga -Dinaburg railway opened in Riga. Already during the time of independent Latvia, after the inclusion of Kengarags in Riga ( 1924 ), the village of Kengerragge was given the Latvian name - Ķengarags .

After the inclusion of the village in the city, it was divided into land on which family houses and garden plots began to be built. The area became a kind of garden suburb, which at that time were other outlying areas. The plots were mainly located along two parallel streets - Prusu and Maskavas (in 1938-1946 - Latgalez street). After Latvia was included in the USSR after 1940, the Riga railway junction and, in particular, the Shkirotava station (Sortirovochnaya) began to expand. On the territory of Kengarags in the 40s, between the Prusu street and the railway, the construction village of Shkirotava station began to be built. The first enterprise built in the post-war period in Kengarags was the Riga Musical Instrument Factory (RMIF, 1945).

In connection with population migration, there was a need for the rapid construction of communal residential buildings. The first capital development project of the district appeared in 1958 . In 1962, a boiler room (heating plant) was opened, in general, capital development took place between 1958 and 1972 (see below).

Today, a residential complex has been built on the territory of the former music factory, and between the Kengarags and the Krast massif, the South Bridge over the Daugava.

Kengarags is part of the Latgale suburb of Riga and is conditionally divided into several microdistricts. This division arose in Soviet times during the design and construction of new residential neighborhoods.

Kengarags-1 (1962-1965). A complex of 7 quarters of residential buildings on the banks of the Daugava between ul. Canier and the Sarkanays Squares plant. Located on the street. Maskavas, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 266, 268. Each of these quarters is an ensemble of seven 5-storey panel buildings of the 1-464A series, with an inner courtyard, a kindergarten, and on the “front” side (st. Maskavas) - public buildings (shop, consumer services, etc.)

Kengarags-2 (1965-1970). The microdistrict, built on the site of partially liquidated low-rise buildings. It starts near the former Maskava cinema (Moscow; now demolished) and ends with the Dole store. The border of the microdistrict is along Aglonas street. The predominant buildings are 5-story buildings, as well as 12-story tower buildings. Inside the blocks, the old low-rise buildings were partially preserved - for example, on the streets of Rushonu, Malthas and others. The former private buildings of Kengarags are reminiscent of those preserved along the street. Maskavas fruit trees (apple trees, pears, cherries).

Kengarags-2A (1965-1968). The microdistrict located between Rushonu and Maskavas streets. It starts at the Keramika porcelain factory and ends at the Yanjavarta railway platform. 5-storey buildings with houses of the “Lithuanian project” (467 and 464A series); There are also 12-story houses. The microdistrict is built on two types of soil: reclaimed marsh soil - in the Yanjavarty area, and meadow - in the "Farforky" area.

Kengarags-2B (1973-1977). It is an experimental residential area with 9-story buildings of the 467th series. Built during the construction of Krasta street . Better known as the Krast Massif . Geographically, it does not belong to Kengarags, but to the Moscow Forstadt .

Kengarags-3A (1945-1962). Former Shkirotava microdistrict located between Rushonu, Aglonas and Bultu streets. All the houses of this microdistrict were built for the employees of the Latvian Railway, including those serving the Shkirotava station.

Kengarags-3B (1953-1969). Former Rumbul military town. It is located between the streets of Rasas, Maskavas, Ikskiles, railway and st. Bultu. The first houses were built in the early 1950s for officers of the Soviet Army. Then, as the military unit expanded, 3-5-story civilian houses began to be built.

Kengarags-3V (1968-1972). Microdistrict between Ikskiles and Vishkyu Streets. Houses of a series 467, 5-9 floors high.

Main streets in Kengarags:

• Maskavas is the longest street in Riga . From the city center to the shopping center "Dole" a tram line was laid down the street;
• Prusu (" Prussian ");
• Rushon;
• Salaspils / Lokomotives;
• Aglonas.

• 25th high school ( 25. vidusskola ).
• 44th high school ( 44. vidusskola ) (currently closed)
• 51st high school ( 51. vidusskola ).
• 57th secondary school ( 57. vidusskola ) (now moved to Moscow forstadt ).
• 62nd high school ( 62. vidusskola ) (now closed)
• 65th high school ( 65. vidusskola ).
• 72nd high school ( 72. vidusskola ).
• 75th high school ( 75. vidusskola ).
• Lithuanian school.
• Riga Kengaraga Secondary School (former 52nd; as well as the UKS and USS (until 2012)).
• Commercial Gymnasium (former 4th day school).
• Basic school and gymnasium "Maksima"
• Private school "Laisma"
• Riga Special Boarding School ( Latvian. Rīgas Speciālā internātpamatskola )
• Private Primary School "RIMS - Riga International Meridian School"

On April 4, 2019, a large shopping center “Akropole” was opened in Kengarags (Maskavas St., 257). In addition, there are shops in the microdistrict:

Rimi

• Maskavas iela 400 (t / c Zoom)
• Maskavas iela 357 (t / c Dole)
• Prūšu iela 2b

Rimi mini

• Salaspils iela 20b
• Maskavas iela 427e
• Maskavas iela 256b
• Maskavas iela 220b

IKI (from February 2014 - Mego)

• Prūšu iela 114a
• Prūšu iela 2
• Maskavas iela 273/6

Mego

• Prūšu iela 23a
• Prūšu iela 22a
• Maskavas iela 264 (00-24)

Maxima

• Višķu iela 14
• Maskavas iela 322a
• Prūšu iela 21
• Maskavas iela 256a
• Maskavas iela 265

Other

• T / C Beta - Rušonu iela 17a
• T / C Ruse - Lokomotīves iela 68
• T / C Zoom

• On the territory of the former Sarkanays Squares factory (Red Square) are the buildings of the Baltic Rubber Factory (Baltijas Gumijas Fabrika), which manufactures rubber products, and the Baltic Shoe Factory (Baltijas Apavu Fabrika), which manufactures rubber shoes.
• The Latelectroceramics enterprise operated on the basis of the Riga Porcelain Factory (formerly Kuznetsov's factory - Maskavas St. 257). In 2013, the factory was demolished, the territory was cleared for the construction of the shopping and entertainment center Akropole. The profitable house of the Kuznetsovs has survived, on the eaves of which you can see the vignette of the partnership “ M. S. Kuznetsov ”.

Pedestrian zones (“promenade”) along the Daugava embankment, a small park behind the “Square” buildings, a pond and two squares at the intersection of Maskavas and Prusu Streets.

The Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia is located in Kengarags (Kengaraga St., 8). In its vicinity is the College of Fire Safety and Civil Defense.

Of the old buildings should be allocated the building of the former 57th school (now RIMS) on the street. Slava 2 (one of the typical school buildings built throughout Riga at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of R. G. Schmeling , as well as the building of the former police station on Maskavas St. 261 (on the balustrade on the right you can notice the inscription of the old Russian spelling with the initials partnership of the famous manufacturer M.S. Kuznetsov ).

The Dole shopping center was built in the 1980s, along with other large shops in Riga residential areas, and at that time was one of the largest and most modern department stores in Riga.

Near Shkirotava station, a small memorial was built for the victims of Stalinist repressions deported to Siberia .

Bus routes:

• No. 12 - st. Abrenes - Southbridge - Ziedonis Cooperative
• No. 15 - Jugla -3 - Darzini -2 ( Jugla 3 - Dārziņi-2 )
• No. 18 - st. Abrenes - st. Lokomotives - Darzini -2 ( Abrenes iela - Lokomotīves iela - Dārziņi-2 )
• No. 31 - Jugla -3 - st. Ulbrokas - Darzini -2 ( Jugla 3 - Dārziņi-2 )
• No. 49 - Rumbula - “Man-Tess” ( Rumbula - “Man-Tess” )
• No. 60 - Kengarags - Ziepniekkalns

Minibus taxi:

• No. 204 - Central Market - Kengarags 2 - Pляavnieki - Purvciems - Mežciems - Jugla
• No. 209 - T / C Domina - Purvciems - Pляavnieki - Kengarags 2 - Rumbula
• No. 216 - st. Baznicas - Kengarags

Trolleybus routes:

• No. 15 - Kengarags - University of Latvia ( Ķengarags - Latvijas Universitāte ).

Tram routes:

• No. 3 Jugla - Shopping Center "Dole"
• No. 7 st. Auseklya - Shopping center "Dole"
• No. 9 “Aldaris” - Shopping center “Dole”

Railway communication - from the Riga-Passenger station to the stopping points:

• Janjavarta platform ( Riga - Krustpils line )
• Daugmale platform (ticket office closed)
• Shkirotava station

• Kengarags // Riga: Encyclopedia = Enciklopēdija “Riga” / ch. ed. P.P. Eran. - Riga: Main Edition of Encyclopedias , 1989. - P. 361. - 880 p. - 60,000 copies. - ISBN 5-89960-002-0 .