Saransk was founded in 1641 as the Russian fortress Atemar, taking its name from a nearby Mordvin village; the fortress was, at the time, located on the southeastern frontier of Russia. The current name "Saransk" refers to the city's situation on the Saranka river. Soon after its founding, the city became an important trade center for nearby Erzya villagers. After 1708, Saransk was assigned to Azov Province, and later to Kazan Governorate. In 1780, the settlement was granted town status and was again transferred, this time to Penza Governorate. In 1928, Saransk become the administrative center of the newly established Mordvin National Okrug which was transformed into Mordovian Autonomous Oblast in 1930. Soviet planners reconstructed the old city center in the 1960s and 1970s, adding wide streets and planning the construction of massive residential areas
