Kirov, formerly known as Vyatka until 1934 and as Khlynov from 1457 to 1780, is the largest city and administrative center of Kirov Oblast, Russia. It is situated on the Vyatka River in European Russia, 896 kilometres northeast of Moscow. Its population was 468,212 in 2021, up to roughly 750 thousand residents in the urban agglomeration. The city was founded in 1374. It was the center of Vyatka Land, which was settled by Russians during the Middle Ages.