Dnepropetrovsk is the regional centre of the Dnepropetrovsk area of Ukraine, the centre of the Dnepropetrovsk agglomeration. The initial name of the city was Ekaterinoslav (1776-1797; 1802-1926), and Novorossisk (1797-1802). It is the fourth city on population in Ukraine after Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa. Dnepropetrovsk settles down in the central part of Ukraine on both banks of the middle Dnepr in a steppe zone. The right-bank part is on spurs of the Pridneprovsky upland - basically, on four hills demarcated by gullies (steep banks) with streams. A left-bank part is low-lying, in the west cut up by the extended lakes - the rests of ancient Protovchi. In the city territory the rivers Orel (channel) and Samara run into Dnepr. The population of the city in 2010 was 1 011 341 inhabitants.

On the municipal coat of arms dark blue color means glory, honor and fidelity. Symbols in the field of a board unite heroic past and modern value of Dnepropetrovsk. Stars are high aspirations, immutability of ideals. The motto - “Ad astra!” (To stars!) - means the way to ideals and greatness. Seven-ray stars, the silver crossed sabre and an arrow show Cossack orign of the city. Quantity of stars: communication of the past, present and future; three parts of the city into which Dnepropetrovsk is divided by the rivers Dnepr and Samara. Oak leaves mean mature force and valor. Four tapes are colors of different epoch: crimson - Cossack, dark blue - ekaterinoslavskaya, red-dark blue - Soviet, yellow-dark blue - modern epoch.

City flag: on a white panel - a simple stamp board, in the bottom of a panel - the stylized waves of Dnepr are.

Dnepropetrovsk is one of the largest industrial, economic and transport centers, the centre of metallurgy of Ukraine. Ferrous metallurgy is especially developed (metal works of Petrovsky, of Babushkina, the Dnepropetrovsk trumpet factory, Kominmet, Nizhnedneprovsky trumpet factor), metal working and mechanical engineering (Dnepropetrovsk is the centre of rocket production of Ukraine - PO YuMZ).

The area where modern Dnepropetrovsk is located has been occupied by a human being since Paleolithic times. Waves of conquerors periodically devastated, last time in XІІІ a century during Mongol invasion. Anew the edge began to be occupied after formation of Zaporozhye Sech’ in XVI century: here began to appear Cossack kurens, farm, villages and small towns.

In 1775 the Zaporozhye Cossacks have been definitively liquidated, and its earths have been divided between the Azov and Novorossisk provinces. In 1776 under Catherine II decree the provincial centre of the Azov province which has received the name of Ekaterinoslav has been founded.

In 1926 the city has been renamed and with its present name - Dnepropetrovsk, in honor of party and the statesman Petrovsky G.I. During the first five-year period the city has revived and has had the further development.

On the June, 22nd, 1941 war with Hitlerite Germany began, and on the August, 25th, 1941 the city was occupied by German military units. Later Dnepropetrovsk became the centre of one of six districts of Rejhskomissariat of Ukraina.

On the October, 25th, 1943 because of the inrush of the Red Army, German armies left the city.
After the Great Patriotic War Dnepropetrovsk has been restored and again became one of the major industrial centers of USSR - there was the largest enterprise of space-rocket branch - Southern machine-building factory.

The city was developing. There were new enterprises residential neighborhoods on suburbs. To the end of 1970, the population of Dnepropetrovsk was more than 1 million inhabitants and the decision to build underground railway was accepted.
However, because of the crisis phenomena from the end of 80th, the development of the city was broken, and the population began to reduce. Now the new large enterprises practically are not built, housing construction is limited by building of separate "elite" complexes.

Dnepropetrovsk is located in a southeastern part of Ukraine on both coasts of the river Dnepr. In whole the city climate is moderately continental with soft winter and warm (sometimes hot) summer. Average annual temperature of air is about 8,5C above zero, the lowest it in January (5,5C below zero), the highest - in July (21,3C above zero)
On the average for a year in Dnepropetrovsk 513 mm of an atmospheric precipitation, least of precipitation in March and October, most of them - in June and July drop out.

In territory of the Dnepropetrovsk area of 123 nature-reserved objects are (a total area of them are about 13,5 thousand hectares), including 15 national parks, three nature sanctuaries.

Administrative districts of the city: Amur-Nijnedneprovskii, Babushkinskii, Jovtnevyi, Industrial'nyi, Krasnogvardeiskii, Leninskii, Samarskii. Besides, since pre-revolutionary period the city is divided into parts: working settlements, villages, which have become city part, residential communities and micro-districts. In total there several tens of such parts.

Ethnic structure of the Dnepropetrovsk area on 2001: Ukrainians - 1825,8 thousands (49,2 %); Russian - 1627,5 thousands (47,6 %); Byelorussians - 29,5 thousands (0,8 %); Jews - 13,7 thousands (0,4 %); Armenians - 10,6 thousands (0,3 %); Azerbaijanis - 5,6 thousands (0,2 %).

Dnepropetrovsk transport: City transport is presented by trolleybus and tram lines, and also the developed network of fixed-route taxis. Since December, 29th of 1995, the Dnepropetrovsk underground railway works. The general extent of the working line is 7,8 km.

Also in Dnepropetrovsk two passenger railway stations (Central and Southern), the international airport, river port, bus stations (the central bus station and auto station “Novii Tsentr”) are located.

City Day is celebrated since 1970th years. In 2001 the Charter of a city has been accepted and the official date of celebration of the City Day is the second Saturday of September. This day celebratory actions pass on the whole city and traditionally over on the city quay with celebratory fireworks.