city, Hrodno oblast (province), western Belarus. It dates from the 13th century as a fortified point on the frontier between the principality of Hrodno and the grand duchy of Lithuania, in which locale it suffered many reversals of fortune. By the 19th century it was a centre of trade and handicrafts, and its modern growth began with the coming of the railway. It now has food and engineering industries. Pop. (1991 est.) 42,000.