Iwate (岩手町, Iwate-machi) is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 29 February 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 13,111, and a population density of 36 persons per km2 in 5455 households. The total area of the town is 360.46 square kilometres (139.17 sq mi).[1]
Iwate
岩手町 | |
---|---|
Iwate Town Hall | |
![]() Location of Iwate in Iwate Prefecture | |
Coordinates: 39°58′22″N 141°12′43.8″E / 39.97278°N 141.212167°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Tōhoku |
Prefecture | Iwate |
District | Iwate |
Government | |
• Mayor | Kōji Sasaki |
Area | |
• Total | 360.46 km2 (139.17 sq mi) |
Population (February 29, 2020) | |
• Total | 13,111 |
• Density | 36/km2 (94/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
City symbols | |
• Tree | Pine |
• Flower | Rindo |
• Bird | Green pheasant |
Phone number | 0195-62-2111 |
Address | Itsukaichi dai-10 jiwari 44, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate-ken 028-4395 |
Website | Official website |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/%E4%B8%B9%E8%97%A4%E5%B7%9D_Tando_river_-_panoramio.jpg/270px-%E4%B8%B9%E8%97%A4%E5%B7%9D_Tando_river_-_panoramio.jpg)
Geography
editIwate is located in an inland region in northwest Iwate Prefecture.
Neighboring municipalities
editIwate Prefecture
Climate
editIwate Town has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwate is 8.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1384 mm with September as the wettest month, and February as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.1 °C.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iwate has steadily declined over the past 60 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1920 | 12,922 | — |
1930 | 14,592 | +12.9% |
1940 | 16,134 | +10.6% |
1950 | 20,744 | +28.6% |
1960 | 23,230 | +12.0% |
1970 | 21,725 | −6.5% |
1980 | 20,350 | −6.3% |
1990 | 19,141 | −5.9% |
2000 | 17,372 | −9.2% |
2010 | 14,988 | −13.7% |
2020 | 12,285 | −18.0% |
History
editThe area of present-day Iwate was part of ancient Mutsu Province. It was under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.
Numakunai, Kawaguchi, Ikkatai and Midō villages were created within Kita-Iwate District on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipality system. Kita-Iwate and Minami-Iwate Districts merged to form Iwate District on March 29, 1896. The four villages merged to form Iwate Town on July 21, 1955.[4]
Government
editIwate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Iwate, together with the city of Hachimantai and the town of Kuzumaki, contributes two seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
editThe local economy is based on agriculture. Iwate is famous for its blueberry production.
Education
editIwate has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
editRailway
editEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen
Highway
edit- National Route 4 – Ishigami-no-oka roadside station
- National Route 281
Local attractions
edit- Ishigami-no-Oka Art Museum
Notable people from Iwate
edit- Seishirō Itagaki, Imperial Japanese Army general
References
edit- ^ Iwate Town official statistics
- ^ Iwate climate data
- ^ Iwate population statistics
- ^ 町の歴史 (in Japanese). 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
External links
edit- Media related to Iwate, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)