Russian settlements in the area began with a military outpost, which later grew into several villages. Those villages were first populated by the retired soldiers and thus carried the names of the corresponding military units, such as 1st regiment, 2nd regiment, and so forth. The soldiers were then joined by migrants from all over Russia, as well as by Armenians escaping from the Turkish repressions. Armenians built separate villages in the mountains near Dagomys and named them Nor Luys, Lower Armenian Hobzu, Upper-Armenian Loo, etc.