Oni, Georgia Facts for Kids

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Oni

ონი

Town

View of Oni

Flag

Seal

Oni, Georgia

Location in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti

Oni, Georgia

Location in Georgia

Racha

Oni

Elevation

830 m (2,720 ft)

Population

(2024)

• Total

2,498

Time zone

UTC+4 (Georgian Time)

Oni (Georgian: ონი, romanized: oni) is a town in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region of Georgia. It is part of Racha, a historic highland area in western Georgia. Oni also serves as the main administrative center for the Oni district.

The town of Oni is located in a deep valley on the left side of the Rioni River. It sits about 830 meters (2,723 feet) above sea level. Oni is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northwest of Georgia's capital city, Tbilisi.

Exploring Oni's Past
- Changes Through the Centuries
- Natural Challenges Oni Faced
Who Lives in Oni?
Oni's Global Connections
- Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Famous People from Oni
See also

Exploring Oni's Past

The former seal of Oni from the time of Imperial Russian rule.

People have lived in the area where Oni is now for a very long time, since the Bronze Age. Archaeologists have found ancient items from the Colchian culture here. These include special coins from around 600 to 300 BC.

Oni was first written about in the 15th century. However, an old story says that King Pharnajom of Iberia founded the town in the 2nd century BC. Oni became an important trading town because it was located where many roads met. These roads connected the Northern Caucasus, central Georgia (Kartli), western Georgia (Imereti), and Lower Rach'a.

Changes Through the Centuries

Over time, different rulers fought for control of Oni. These included the kings of Imereti and the princes of Rach'a. In 1810, Imperial Russia took control of the town. By 1846, Oni became the main administrative center for the Racha area. Later, during the time of the Soviet Union, Oni and nearby villages were grouped together into the Oni district. Today, this district is part of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti region.

Natural Challenges Oni Faced

In recent years, Oni has experienced several natural disasters, like earthquakes and avalanches. A very strong earthquake hit on April 29, 1991. This earthquake measured 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the Caucasus Mountains. It caused a lot of damage to buildings and roads in Oni.

Oni Synagogue

The Synagogue in Oni

Even though many people have moved away from Oni, a small number of Jewish families still live there. They are part of a historic Jewish community that was once very large in Georgia. The Oni Synagogue is a special building that was built in the 1880s. A Polish architect designed it, and Greek Jewish builders from Thessaloniki constructed it.

Oni and its surrounding areas have many historical sites. These include old fort ruins and Georgian Orthodox churches. There are also popular spa towns nearby, like Shovi and Utsera. These are located about 15 to 30 kilometers (9 to 19 miles) from Oni, in the Greater Caucasus mountains. The Racha Regional Museum in Oni has an amazing collection of 14,000 unique items. These items show the history, culture, and nature of the region.

Who Lives in Oni?

Most of the people living in Oni are Georgians and they follow the Christian Orthodox faith. The largest group of people who are not Georgian are the Ossetian people.

There used to be a large community of Georgian Jews in Oni. This is why the Oni Synagogue was built. However, after the Soviet Union ended, most of them moved to Israel. Only a few families remain today, often to help take care of the synagogue.