Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Southern Federal District is one of the eight federal districts of Russia. Its territory lies mostly on the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Its population was 22,907,141 (57% urban) according to the 2002 Census, living on an area of 589,200 square kilometers (227,491.4 sq mi). On January 19, 2010, the federal district was split in two, with its former southern territories forming new North Caucasian Federal District. Southern Federal District was called North Caucasian Federal District when it was founded in May 2000, but was renamed soon after for political reasons.