Salt Lake City residents Lowell and Jane Turner visited Chernivtsi in the late 1980s and were deeply captivated by its charm and appeal. Inspired by their experience, the Turners approached then Salt Lake City Mayor, Palmer DePaulis, with the idea of establishing a Sister City Relationship. Recognizing the potential for cultural exchange and cooperation, Mayor DePaulis embraced the proposal. In June 1989, Chernivtsi, Ukraine was officially declared a sister city of Salt Lake City.
Chernivtsi, Ukraine, is situated in southwestern Ukraine, and stretches for seven miles along the upper Prut River in the Carpathian foothills. First documentary reference to Chernivtsi dates from 1408, when it was a town in Moldavia and the chief center of the area known as Bukovina. Over the centuries, Chernivtsi was governed by several different countries: first, the Turks and then in 1774, Austria; after World War I, Romania, and in 1940, the U.S.S.R. In 1991, after the break-up of the former Soviet Union, Chernivtsi was recognized as a city in independent Ukraine and remains so today.
Throughout its history, Chernivtsi has been a hub of trade, and in the early 20th century, it blossomed into an industrial center and a crucial railway junction, connecting lines to Lviv, Ternopil, Moldova, and Romania. Today, the city boasts an international airport, further facilitating its connectivity. The local industries in Chernivtsi have encompassed diverse sectors, including agriculture, woolen and cotton textile processing, light engineering, food processing, timber working, as well as clothing manufacturing and technology in recent years. However, Chernivtsi’s significance extends beyond its industrial prowess. It is renowned as a cultural and educational nucleus in western Ukraine, boasting the prestigious Chernivtsi University and the UNESCO-listed Chernivtsi Historic Center, both contributing to the city’s reputation as a vibrant center of knowledge and heritage.
For additional information on the Chernivtsi relationship, please contact: Board Manager, Katie Matheson, at katherine.matheson@slc.gov
