Soviet era
In 1918, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and the establishment of Bolshevik rule, Soviet power was established in Verny. The city and surrounding region became part of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR). On 5 February 1921, Verny was renamed Alma-Ata—one of the city's historical names—following a joint consultation involving regional government representatives, professional trade associations, and local religious communities.
In 1926, the Council of Labour and Defence approved the construction of the Turkestan–Siberia Railway, a crucial element in the future growth of Kazakhstan, particularly in the east and southeast. The railway’s construction had a decisive economic impact, shaping Alma-Ata’s destiny as the capital of the Kazakh ASSR. By 1930, the highway and railway links to Alma-Ata were completed.
On 29 April 1927, the government decided to transfer the capital of the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from Kyzyl-Orda to Alma-Ata, within the RSFSR. This move attracted increased trade and government personnel, stimulating intensive development in the city.
On 31 January 1928, Leon Trotsky, leader of the 1917 October Revolution, was exiled to Alma-Ata by Joseph Stalin, then head of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in Moscow. He was accompanied by his wife, Natalia Sedova, and their son, Lev Sedov. In February 1929, Trotsky was expelled from Alma-Ata to Turkey, before eventually going into exile in Mexico City.
Alma-Ata Airport opened in 1930, establishing an air link to Moscow, the seat of the Soviet government. Alma-Ata became the primary air gateway to the Kazakh SSR, a status it retains to this day. The transformation of the town into the capital of the Kazakh SSR was accelerated by large-scale construction of new administrative buildings, government facilities and housing. The Great Purge of 1936–38 extended to the Kazakh SSR, resulting in numerous deaths and consolidating Soviet control over the population. During the 1930s, Kazakh nomads suffered severe starvation following the disruption of their traditional way of life (see: Asharshylyq).
In 1936, the Architecture and Planning Bureau devised a plan to enhance Alma-Ata’s role as the new cultural capital of the Kazakh SSR. The plan built upon the existing rectangular district layout, aiming to strengthen and reconstruct these areas.
During World War II the government affected the city's population and structures. To better organize the home front and concentrate industrial and material resources, the government evacuated 26,000 people and numerous industries from the European theatre of war. Alma-Ata hosted over 30 industrial facilities removed from the European section of the USSR, eight evacuated hospitals, 15 institutes, universities and technical schools; and around 20 cultural institutions. Motion picture production companies from Leningrad, Kyiv, and Moscow were also moved to Alma-Ata at this time. This brought in so many ethnic Russians that the Kazakhs became a minority in the region. In connection with the formation of the Polish Anders' Army, a Polish diplomatic post was located in the city from October 1941 to July 1942.
During the years 1941–1945, industrial development increased during the postwar years. The population of the city grew from 104,000 in 1919 to 365,000 in 1968. By 1967 the city had 145 enterprises, with the bulk of these being light and food industries.
The main industries in Alma-Ata were: food processing (36% of gross industrial output), light industry (31%), and heavy industry (33%). The main products of the region were:
Food: Meat, flour and cereals (pasta factory), milk, wines, canned fruit, tobacco, confectionery, alcoholic spirits, beer, yeast, and tea (packaging)
Light industry: textiles, fur, knitting, carpets, footwear, apparel, printing, and the Almaty Cotton combine.
Heavy industry: electrical engineering, foundry engineering, car repair, bearing repair, building materials, woodworking, concrete structures and structural elements, and housebuilding.
From 1966 to 1971, 1,400,000 square metres of public and cooperative housing were built. Annually, around 300,000 square metres of dwellings were under construction. Most of the buildings constructed during this time were earthquake-proof multi-story buildings. The Soviet government tried to diversify architectural forms to create a more varied cityscape. During this period, many schools, hospitals, cultural, and entertainment facilities were constructed, including Lenin's Palace, the Kazakhstan Hotel, and the Medeo Sports Complex.
The supersonic transport Tupolev Tu-144 went into service on 26 December 1975, carrying mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata in preparation for passenger services; these began in November 1977. The Aeroflot flight on 1 June 1978 was the 55th and last scheduled passenger flight of the Tu-144.
Alma-Ata was the host city for a 1978 international conference on Primary Health Care. The Alma Ata Declaration was adopted, marking a paradigm shift in global public health.
On 16 December 1986, the Jeltoqsan riot took place in the Brezhnev Square (now Republic Square) in response to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of Dinmukhamed Kunayev.
On 7 September 1988, the subway Almaty Metro project began construction, and the subway was opened on 1 December 2011 after 23 years.
