Pochinkovsky District is located in the southwestern part of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 220 kilometers south of Nizhny Novgorod, on the federal highway Nizhny Novgorod – Saratov and 12 kilometers from the Uzhivka railway station on the Nizhny Novgorod – Penza line. The district borders the Lukoyanovskiy District and Bolsheboldinsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Region, as well as the Republic of Mordovia. The district contains 78 populated localities grouped into 23 rural Soviets. Pochinki is the southernmost district center and the largest selo (village) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
Industry
Industry in Pochinkovsky District is represented by several brick factories — one of them located in the selo of Baykovo — a large number of farms, a dairy plant, a meat-processing plant, as well as a cannery, a stud farm, an asphalt plant, and several natural gas industry enterprises situated within the district center.
Sights
Stud Farm
The Pochinkovskiy Breeding Stud Farm is one of the oldest stud farms in Russia, tracing its history back to 1652. In 1760, by decree of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, the establishment of a large state stud farm was ordered for the purpose of breeding horses for the privileged Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. The farm consisted of four rows of wooden stables.
Over time, the farm's wooden buildings were replaced with brick ones. The new farm, with all its facilities, was built in 1819–1821 to a design by architect A. S. Kutepov in the form of an enclosed square, each side of which measures approximately 250 meters. Inside this square stood a riding hall and auxiliary premises.
Since the 20th century, the farm has specialized in breeding draft horse breeds. It is the originating stud for the Soviet Heavy Draft breed, officially recognized in 1952 and ranked among the largest horse breeds in the world.
The Leaning Mill
In the selo of Kriushi in Pochinkovsky District, a unique monument of Russian architecture has stood for 150 years: a windmill built in the traditional Russian manner — without a single nail.
The Leaning Mill has surpassed the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in its angle of tilt. By rough estimates, the mill has deviated 12 degrees from vertical, while the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts at a mere 5.3 degrees.
The mill was built in the late 19th century. It once stood 12 meters tall and supplied grain to the entire village. When the Great Patriotic War began, the mill saved people from starvation. All the grain it processed was sent to the front. After the war, the mill continued to be actively used.
In the 1960s, the mill was modified. The sails were replaced with an engine from a U-2 tractor, which substituted for the wind. According to local historians, the millstones were turned by means of a belt drive. Electricity was later connected and a so-called crusher was installed, which remained in operation until 1975.