This article is from the Isaac Asimov FAQ, by Edward J. Seiler ejseiler@earthlink.net and John H. Jenkins jenkins@mac.com with numerous contributions by others.
Asimov was born (officially) January 2, 1920, in the town of Petrovichi
(pronounced peh-TRUV-ih-chee), then in the Russian Soviet Federated
Socialist Republic (czarist Russia no longer existed, while the USSR
hadn't formed yet) and now in Russia. It can be found at latitude 53.58
N, longitude 32.10 E, about 400 km. southwest of Moscow and some 16 km
east of the border between Belarus and Russia. Born to Jews in the early
days of the RSFSR, there are no accurate records, however, and it is
possible that he may have been born as early as October 4, 1919.
Asimov's birthdate was temporarily changed by his mother to September 7,
1919 in order to get him into school a year earlier. When, several years
later, he discovered this, he insisted that the official records be
changed back. January 2, 1920 was the date he personally celebrated
throughout his life.
His family left the Soviet Union on January 11, 1923 and arrived in New
York City February 3.
Please note that the date given on the first page of the hardcover edition
of Asimov's last autobiographical book, I. Asimov: A Memoir is a
typographical error (January 1, 1920), but the mistake was corrected in
the paperback edition. Asimov's other books leave no possible doubt that
the date he celebrated as his birthday was January 2.
 
Continue to: