Kansk

a city in Krasnoiarsk Krai, RSFSR. Located in the southeastern part of the krai in the territory of the Kan Forest-steppe on the Kan River (a tributary of the Enisei). Kansk has a railroad station (Kansk-Eniseiskii) 247 km east of Krasnoiarsk, and it is a highway junction. Population, 94, 000 (1972; 42, 000 in 1939). Cotton-textile, wood-products, and building-materials combines, machine-building and metalworking enterprises, a biochemical plant, and mill and meat combines, a liqueur and vodka distillery, a brewery, and other food enterprises are there. Teachers’ and medical schools, a polytechnicum, and technological, library, and evening textile technicums are located in Kansk; it also has a drama theater and a museum of local lore. The city was founded in 1626 as a fort, which was moved in 1640 to the site of present-day Kansk. When Enisei Province was established in 1822, Kansk became a city.