Nukha Uyezd

Nukha Uyezd (), also transliterated as Nukhinsky Uyezd, sometimes called Shakinsky Uyezd, was one of the "uyezds" (administrative units) of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Nukha from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by Soviet authorities.
Geography.
Elisabethpol Governorate consisted of Yelizavetpolsky, Nukhinsky, Shushinsky, Zangezursky, Kazakhsky, Areshsky, Dzhebrailsky, and Dzhevanshirsky Uyezds. Nukha uyezd was located in the far northeastern part of Elisabethpol Governorate, bordering Dagestan Oblast on the north, Baku Governorate on the east, Georgian Governorate on the west and Areshsky Uyezd on the south. The uyezd center was the city of Nukha. The northern part of the uyezd was mountainous and lied along the Greater Caucasus mountain range, where the altitude reaches as high as 14-15 thousand ft. Among the notable peaks are Mount Bazardüzü (14,722 ft) and Tkhfan Dag (13,764 ft) enriched with many rivers. The lower part of the region has the best conditions for gardening, harvesting rice and sericulture. Main rivers are Shin-chay, Kish-chay, Ajighan-chay, Turyanchay, Goychay which were used for irrigation purposes.
History.
After establishment of Russian rule over the khanates in the South Caucasus and institution of administrative reforms, the territories of Shaki Khanate were incorporated into Shamakhi Governorate of the empire, later renamed to Baku Governorate. Upon establishment of Elisabethpol Governorate in 1868, Nukha Uyezd was transferred from Baku to Elisabethpol Governorate. In 1874, the southern section of Nukha Uyezd was separated to form the new Aresh Uyezd within the same governorate. On August 30, 1918 Elisabethpol Governorate was renamed to Ganja Governorate, as per administrative division of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
Population.
According to census held in 1897, the population of uyezd was 120,555, of which 83,578 were Turko-Tatars (now Azerbaijanis), 18,899 were Armenians, 8,506 - Kyuris, 7,030 - Udis, 1,752 - Tats, 230 - Russians, and other minorities. The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, sericulture, tobacco growing. At the end of the 19th century, Nukha Uyezd was making up about 95% of tobacco production of Elisabethpol Governorate.