city, Samara oblast (province), western Russia, on the Volga River. Founded as a fortress in 1738 and known as Stavropol, it was given city status in 1780 and again in 1946. Overshadowed by Samara, it remained unimportant until the beginning in 1950 of the huge V.I. Lenin barrage (dam) and hydroelectric station, immediately below Stavropol at Zhigulyovsk. On completion in 1957, the dam's reservoir, covering more than 2,000 square miles (5,200 square km) and extending some 370 miles (600 km) upstream, flooded the site of Stavropol, which was moved to a higher location as Novy (New) Stavropol. In 1964 Stavropol was renamed for the Italian Communist Party leader Palmiro Togliatti. Tolyatti is a chemical centre producing synthetic rubber, fertilizers, and chemical fibres. The city also manufactures machinery.

In 1970 the largest automobile works in Russia began production in the city. As a result, the city grew with exceptional speed from only 72,000 inhabitants in 1959. It has several research institutes and a polytechnic institute. Pop. (2005 est.) 704,792.