The city of Sumgait is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, at the mouth of the Sumgait River, on a plain. It is the 3rd largest city in the republic.

The name Sumgait was first mentioned in historical sources by the English traveler Burrough in 1580. In the 30s of the 18th century, the German traveler Lerks reported the existence of a flowing river on the territory of present-day Sumgait and the existence of a stone bridge across it. In 1858, the French writer Alexandre Dumas in his book “The Caucasus” mentions Sumgait as a post station.

However, starting from the mid-30s of the 20th century, when the implementation of a large-scale industrialization policy began in the former USSR, the formation of a large industrial center, the creation of the Sumgait industrial center, fell upon Azerbaijan. In such conditions, the processes of Sumgait’s revival were started, but these processes were temporarily stopped due to the sudden attack of Hitler Germany on the former USSR and the war. Before the end of the war, the Sumgait industrial center was formed, and large metallurgical, chemical and petrochemical plants were built one after another. These type of large enterprises, most of the facilities were intended for raw materials and finished products and worked according to the plans of the national economy of the former union.

Construction and building works carried out before 1949, industrial enterprises created in the territory of Sumgait, rapid population growth, increased influx of labor force to Sumgait from all sides, strengthening of the industrial infrastructure of the city, taking measures to create urban infrastructure already testified to the formation of Sumgait as a city, and here there were serious arguments justifying the need for the naming of the city. In such conditions, by the decision of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 22, 1949, the city of Sumgait was formed. From this date, Sumgait has been formed as a city of great importance from the socio-economic point of view for Azerbaijan. The population of the city of Sumgait at the time of its formation was 17.2 thousand people, and in 1939 this figure was approaching 6.4 thousand people. In the following years, the processes of creating the socio-economic infrastructure of Sumgait continued, and the formation of the urban economy was in the center of attention. From 1950 to 1970, large industrial enterprises were put into operation in Sumgait one after another.

A radical turn in the socio-economic development of the city of Sumgait began in the early 1970s.

The initiator, creator and inspiration for all these processes was the great leader Heydar Aliyev, who headed the republic at that time. Already in the early 1970s, issues of expanding the industrial potential of the city of Sumgait and its most efficient use attracted attention. In the 1970-1980s, large-scale reconstruction of the industrial hub in Sumgait was carried out, new production areas and enterprises were created, more productive and efficient technological facilities were put into operation, as well as the reconstruction of existing production facilities.

In Sumgait, 2,130 million square meters of apartments were built in 1969-1982, 30 thousand families were provided with new apartments. At the same time, 27 modern comprehensive schools with 30.5 thousand students, a 1,500-seat cultural center, 6 cultural centers, 6 libraries, and a 129-bed hospital complex were built and put at the disposal of Sumgait residents. It was at that time that Sumgait was among the fastest growing cities not only in the republic, but also in the former USSR in terms of socio-economic development. In particular, the urban economy and industrial infrastructure formed in 1970-1985 were of strategic importance in recognizing Sumgait as a powerful industrial center and a developing city.

Due to the collapse of the former USSR, the processes that began in the early 1990s gave their bitter consequences, and the city of Sumgait lost a significant part of its industrial potential, tens of thousands of industrial jobs were lost, many large facilities began to rapidly fail and soon fell into disrepair. During this difficult period, as a result of the historic efforts of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, who came to power for the second time, it was possible to revive the industrial potential of the city of Sumgait, in general, to ensure the socio-economic development of the city. In 1995-2003, some industrial enterprises of Sumgait were modernized, necessary measures were taken to solve the environmental problems of the city, and activities were carried out to strengthen the industrial potential. Today, Sumgait is experiencing a new era as a result of the successful economic reforms carried out by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continued the policy of the great leader. The successful implementation of state programs implemented as a result of the economic and social policy of President Ilham Aliyev played an important role in the development of the city of Sumgait. The creation of the Sumgait Technological Park and the Sumgat Production Park is evidence of the head of state’s great support for the development of the city’s industry.

Today, Sumgait is experiencing a new era as a result of successful economic reforms carried out by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continued the policy of the great leader. The successful implementation of state programs implemented as a result of the economic and social policy of President Ilham Aliyev played an important role in the development of the city of Sumgait. The creation of the Sumgait Technological Park and the Sumgait Chemical Park is a manifestation of the great support of the head of state for the development of the city’s industry. Sumgait is not only the industrial center of Azerbaijan, but also a city with a rich cultural and artistic life. Since the foundation of Sumgait, a number of cultural centers have been built and commissioned in the city, large recreation parks have been built, monuments to outstanding statesmen of the Azerbaijani people have been erected: in 1951 named after J. Jabbarli, in 1958 named after S. Vurgun, in 1985 the Cultural Centers named after U. Hajibeyov were built, in 1966 the stadium named after M. Huseynzade was commissioned, as a symbol of friendly relations with Sumgait’s sister city Ludwigshafen, the seaside culture and recreation park named after Nasimi, the city park, the Ludwigshafen park and the Heydar park were built. Monuments to N. Narimanov, J. Jabbarli, J. Mammadguluzade and I. Nasimi have been erected in prominent places of the city. A monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev has been erected in the center of the city. Since 1969, the State Musical and Drama Theater named after G. Arablinsky, as well as the Sumgait State University, the Sumgait branch of the Pedagogical Institute, the State Technical College, the Medical School, the Music School, the Pedagogical Seminary and music schools have been operating in Sumgait.

Sumgait hosts various international and local festivals, exhibitions and concerts. The city has become a place of attraction for artists and art lovers from different regions of Azerbaijan and abroad. Festivals held in Sumgait show the importance of the city for the development of culture and support of art in recent years, the establishment of dozens of new production enterprises, the opening of cultural and scientific institutions in Sumgait paved the way for the successful development of the city and turned it into a modernized and developing city.

Recommended literature:

1. Alıyev, Həmid Alhüseyn oğlu. Sumqayıt şəhərinin tarixi: [monoqrafiya] /Həmid Alıyev ; elmi red. A. B. Baxşəliyev ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Təhsil Nazirliyi, Sumqayıt Dövlər Un-ti. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2011. - 542 s.
2. Məmmədov, R. S. Sumqayıt: tarixdən səhifələr: 1930-2000 /R. S. Məmmədov, H. Ş. Sadıqov. - Sumqayıt: [s.n.], 2010. - 205 s.
3. Əhmədov, Qalib Əhmədxan oğlu. Sumqayıt və sumqayıtlılar /Qalib Əhmədov, Beydulla Vəziroğlu; Red. hey.: M. Salahov, Z. Həsənova, Q. Kərimov və b. - Bakı: Zaman, 1999. - 446 s.
4. Ахундов, Гусейн Юсиф оглу. Сумгаит /Г. Ю. Ахундов ; ред. М. Багиров ; худож. М. Гумриев. - Баку: Азерб. Гос. изд-во, 1966. - 42 с.