POSTAL TRACTS IN SOUTH KARELIA AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE KARELIAN POPULATION’S LIFE STYLE IN WAYSIDE VILLAGES (ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL SOURCES)

SOURCES) Abstract: The article discusses the influence of the postal routes in South Karelia on the local Karelian population living along the postal tracts from the late 1800s until the early 20th century. The focus is on Kotkozerskaia, Rypushkalskaia, Vidlitskaia and Nekkulskaia volosts (districts) of Olonets uezd (county), through which the routes from Petrozavodsk to Olonets and from Olonets to Serdobol / Sortavala (in the Grand Duchy of Finland) passed. The statistical publications on the history of Olonets guberniia (governorate) are analysed. It is concluded that the postal routes contributed to the formation of the specific economy in the wayside villages and volosts. First of all, these volosts and villages were more populated compared to other ones in the same uezd. The location of churches along the tracts (or in relative proximity to them) testifies to the increasing religious significance of these localities. The level of literacy among the population in these volosts was also higher. The routes contributed to the emergence and development of the industries needed to meet their specific needs. The availability of a route gave the local population new opportunities for extra incomes as well as increased its mobility and promoted trade. Thus, the peasants of Olonets uezd were actively involved in the transportation. They visited St. Petersburg in order to earn money and supported trade relations with the population of the neighbouring Ключевые