Aizkraukle
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Aizkraukle Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 56°36′15″N 25°15′14″E / 56.60417°N 25.25389°E / 56.60417; 25.25389
Country	Latvia
Municipality	Aizkraukle Municipality
Town rights	1967
Area [1]
• Total	12.93 km2 (4.99 sq mi)
• Land	8.04 km2 (3.10 sq mi)
• Water	4.89 km2 (1.89 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[2]
• Total	6,947
• Density	540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	LV-510(1-3)
Calling code	+371 651
Website	www.aizkraukle.lv

Aizkraukle (German: Ascheraden) is a town^[3] in Vidzeme region in Latvia, the administrative centre of Aizkraukle Municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River. The population in 2020 was 7,018.^[4]

History

In the second half of the 14th century Livonian Order built the Aizkraukle Castle, a few kilometres downstream from the ancient hillfort of Livs. The ruins of the castle still remain today. Before World War I, the settlement that stood near the site of modern-day Aizkraukle was known by its German name of Ascheraden.

The modern town was established in 1961 as a settlement to house the builders of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas.^[5] It was originally called Stučka^[6] (or "Стучка", Stuchka^[7] and "имени Петра Стучки", imeni Petra Stuchki^[5] in Russian), for Pēteris Stučka, a Latvian communist.^[5] Town status was granted to it in 1967,^[5][6] which is also when it became the administrative center of Stučkas District.^{[citation needed]} In 1990, it was renamed Aizkraukle, after the nearest railway station.^[5] The name literally means beyond the Kraukle River.^[5]

Economy

General industries in the area include power generation, woodworking, printing, and agriculture.

In 2004 Aizkraukle was awarded "The tidiest town in Latvia 2004" in its size group.

• 
  Aizkraukle Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church
• 
  Soviet-era supermarket