Penza

Oblast (region) of the western Russian Federation, southeast of Moscow; area 43,200 sq km/16,680 sq mi; population (1996 est) 1,562,000 (64% urban). Industries include engineering, food processing, and chemical and textile manufacture; grain, potatoes, sugar beet, sunflowers, and hemp are grown, and cattle and pigs are raised.

The region is situated largely on the western slopes of the Volga uplands, in the wooded steppe belt; 20% of the total area of Penza is covered with oak, birch, and pine forests. There are peat and phosphor deposits. Cities include Penza and Kuznetsk.

Penza formerly belonged to the Kazan Khanate in medieval times, becoming Russian in 1552.