Industrial activity in Saransk includes the production of electrical cables, chemicals, decorative cloth, and food products; machine building, and metalworking.
The city also has two thermal power stations. Saransk has had a train station since 1893, currently located on the Rusaevka-Kazan rail route, and is located along a highway.
Saransk has many historic architectural sites stemming from its early settlement in 1641 as a fortress for the southeastern border of the Russian State.
Soviet planners reconstructed the old city centre in the 1960s and 1970s, adding wide streets and planning the construction of massive residential areas.
Saransk has several theatres: a drama theatre (founded in 1961), a puppet theatre, and a comedy theatre. It also has a regional history museum and a museum of painting.
The Mordovian State University (founded in 1957) is located in Saransk as well as several technical schools.
