Belinsky, Penza Oblast

It was first mentioned in 1713. In 1780, it was granted town status and named Chembar (). In 1798, it was abolished, but in 1801 it was re-instated as a town. In 1948, it was renamed after Vissarion Belinsky who spent his childhood here. During the Red Terror 48 inhabitants of the town and surrounding villages were shot without trial on 25 September 1918. On 30 October 2012, thanks to the town’s inhabitants and staff from the museum at Belinsky’s estate, a memorial bearing the names of those shot was set up on the town’s central square. ==Administrative and municipal status==

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Belinsky serves as the administrative center of Belinsky District. As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Belinsky District as the town of district significance of Belinsky . ==Notable residents ==

• Alexander Bychkov (born 1988), serial killer 2009–2012 • Miroslav Katětov (1918–1995), Czech mathematician, chess master, and psychologist ==References==