The book is devoted to the history of Russian settlement in the Southern Trans-Urals. Both the general course of the process and specific details of the appearance of the first Russian settlements in the Chelyabinsk region are shown. Particular emphasis is placed on the history of the emergence of the Chebarkul, Miass and Chelyabinsk fortresses in 1736. Versions of the existence of settlements preceding these fortresses are considered.