Darkhan, Mongolia's second-largest city with 75,000 residents and capital of Darkhan-Uul Province, was founded October 17, 1961 as planned industrial center designed to reduce migration pressure on overcrowded Ulaanbaatar while developing northern region's manufacturing capacity. Soviet-era urban planning created grid layout with dedicated industrial zones, residential districts, and green spaces contrasting with Ulaanbaatar's haphazard sprawl. The city serves as major manufacturing hub producing concrete, lime cement, bricks, wood and steel products sustaining construction industries throughout Mongolia. Heavy industries including metallurgy plant built 1990 with Japanese assistance, cement factory, and sheepskin-processing facilities demonstrate diversified industrial base beyond capital's service-oriented economy.

Food production thrives through meat processing factory, flour mill, bakeries, confectionery manufacturers, dairy processors, and soft drink/alcoholic beverage producers creating regional food security while generating employment. The economy depends almost entirely on industrial manufacturing vulnerable to economic fluctuations affecting construction demand and commodity prices. Challenges include aging Soviet-era infrastructure requiring modernization investment, limited economic diversification beyond manufacturing, and brain drain as educated youth migrate to Ulaanbaatar or abroad seeking white-collar careers. Yet Darkhan maintains industrial production capacity representing Mongolia's modest manufacturing sector, planned urban character demonstrating socialist development philosophy, and strategic location between capital and Russian border facilitating northern trade routes. The city embodies Soviet-era industrialization ambitions creating specialized provincial centers reducing capital dependency while facing post-transition challenges adapting to market economy and maintaining competitiveness.