Gatchina is a town located in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia. It serves as the administrative center of the Gatchinsky District and is situated approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) south-southwest of St. Petersburg along the E95 highway, which connects Saint Petersburg and Pskov.
The town has experienced steady population growth over recent decades. According to census data, the population was 79,714 in 1989, rising to 88,420 in 2002, and reaching 92,937 by 2010.