Between 1764 and 1772, 106 colonies were established along the Volga River near Saratov. Historically, these original colonies became known as "Mother Colonies". Colonists were assigned to settlements according to their religious confession.
As the colonies grew, they became overcrowded and farmland was inadequate. Beginning in 1848 a series of "Daughter Colonies" were established, mostly to the south and east of the original colonies. The daughter colonies were inhabited by descendants of the original colonists.
Some Volga Germans lived in other settlements including cities such as Engels, Samara, and Saratov.
A map engraved by Pierre Francois Tardieu and issued in Paris in 1788. The map shows all the German colonies that were founded in the 1760's except for Holstein, Kutter (Brehning). and Yagodnaya Polyana. A color reproduction of this map is available for purchase at AHSGR.
