The term “Old City” in Shymkent refers to a district closely intertwined with the city’s historical core. Its name can be traced back to the late 19th century when a wave of immigrants arrived, potentially during the period when the tsarist administration was established in Shymkent following its conquest from the Kokand Khanate in 1864.

The Old City area was home to the city’s initial administrative buildings and social infrastructure, signifying the beginnings of urbanization and expansion. It’s possible that the early Russian settlers, seeking to distinguish the new developments from the existing ones, coined the name “Old Town” for this particular part of Shymkent.