Demidov

(until 1918, Porech’e), a city, the center of Demidov Raion, Smolensk Oblast, RSFSR. Situated on the Kasplia River where the Gobza River flows into it (in the Zapadnaia Dvina basin), 47 km northeast of the Rudnia rail-Road station (on the Smolensk-Vitebsk line). A bus route connects it to Smolensk, 76 km away. It has a flax-processing plant, a dairy, and an agriculture mechanization technicum. Demidov has been in existence since the 15th century; it became a city in 1776.