In 1935, the construction of a cement factory commenced.[12] The settlement serving the factory was named Pikalyovo after the railway station.[2] The cement plant was evacuated during World War II and after the war several industrial enterprises were built, including the aluminum oxide plant.[2] In 1947, Pikalyovo was granted urban-type settlement status.[15] On July 25, 1952, it was transferred to newly established Boksitogorsky District,[15] and on December 9, 1954, it was granted town status.[3] In 1992, it became the town of oblast significance.[14] In 2010, the administrative division of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with the municipal division, and Pikalyovo was made the town of district significance.[16]
Pikalyovo was strongly hit by economic crises of the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s. In one infamous episode, in 2009, about three hundred inhabitants blocked the highway between St. Petersburg and Vologda to protest wage retardation. Vladimir Putin, the then-Prime Minister of Russia, flew to Pikalyovo and, without going through any legal procedures, ordered Oleg Deripaska, the plant owner, to pay out the debts immediately.[17]
A-114 Issad–Vologda autoroute passes 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) south of Pikalyovo. Autoroutes H-9 (Pikalyovo–Zarechye[clarification needed]) and H-7 (Pikalyovo–Kolbeki) pass directly through the town.
Pikalyovo is located on the railroad connecting St. Petersburg and Vologda. There are three railway stations in the town: Pikalyovo-1, Pikalyovo2-, and Obrinsky.
Both intra- and intercity bus services are available in Pikalyovo.
Pikalyovo hosts two museums. The Pikalyovo Local Museum shows mostly ethnographic collections.[19] There is also a museum of aluminum oxide plant, which concentrates on the history of the town.[20]
The town's Delfin swimming pool was the location of seven Soviet and three Russian championships, where fifty-seven world and European records were set.[12]
Also available are a sport complex, an illuminated ski line, a sports school for children, ice-hockey areas, "Metallurg" stadium, and heavy athletics hall.
^ abcdefghИстория города (in Russian). Муниципальное образование «Город Пикалёво». Retrieved February 27, 2014.
^ abБокситогорский район (июль 1952 г.) (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
^ abПикалёво, г. (in Russian). Encyclopedia of Leningrad Oblast. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
^ ab"Тихвинский район (август 1927 г. - )" (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
Законодательное собрание Ленинградской области. Областной закон №32-оз от 15 июня 2010 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Ленинградской области и порядке его изменения», в ред. Областного закона №23-оз от 8 мая 2014 г. «Об объединении муниципальных образований "Приморское городское поселение" Выборгского района Ленинградской области и "Глебычевское сельское поселение" Выборгского района Ленинградской области и о внесении изменений в отдельные Областные законы». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Вести", №112, 23 июня 2010 г. (Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Oblast. Oblast Law #32-oz of June 15, 2010 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Leningrad Oblast and on the Procedures for Its Change, as amended by the Oblast Law #23-oz of May 8, 2014 On Merging the Municipal Formations of "Primorskoye Urban Settlement" in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast and "Glebychevskoye Rural Settlement" in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное собрание Ленинградской области. Областной закон №78-оз от 26 октября 2004 г. «Об установлении границ и наделении соответствующим статусом муниципального образования Бокситогорский муниципальный район и муниципальных образований в его составе», в ред. Областного закона №22-оз от 8 мая 2014 г. «Об объединении муниципальных образований Анисимовское сельское поселение Бокситогорского муниципального района Ленинградской области и Самойловское сельское поселение Бокситогорского муниципального района Ленинградской области и о внесении изменений в отдельные Областные законы». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования (29 ноября 2004 г.). Опубликован: "Вестник Правительства Ленинградской области", №34, 19 ноября 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Oblast. Oblast Law #78-oz of October 26, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of and Granting an Appropriate Status to the Municipal Formation of Boksitogorsky Municipal District and to the Municipal Formations It Comprises, as amended by the Oblast Law #22-oz of May 8, 2014 On the Merger of the Municipal Formations of Anisimovskoye Rural Settlement in Boksitogorsky Municipal District of Leningrad Oblast and Samoylovskoye Rural Settlement in Boksitogorsky Municipal District of Leningrad Oblast and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication (November 29, 2004).).