Gosen, Niigata

Gosen (五泉市, Gosen-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the city had an estimated population of 48,458 in 188703 households,[1] and a population density of 138 persons per km². The total area of the city is 351.91 square kilometres (135.87 sq mi).[2]

Gosen

五泉市
City
Gosen Honcho Street
Flag
Seal
Location of Gosen in Niigata
Gosen
 
Coordinates: 37°44′40″N 139°10′57.4″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
Government
 • MayorKatsumi Itoh (since February 2010)
Area
 • Total351.91 km2 (135.87 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
 • Total48,458
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeSakura
• FlowerPaeonia suffruticosa
Phone number0250-43-3911
Address1094-1 Ota, Gosen-shi, Niigata-ken 959-1692
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

Gosen is located in an inland region of north-central Niigata Prefecture. The Agano River flows through the city.

Surrounding municipalities

History
Central Muramatsu

The area of present-day Gosen was part of ancient Echigo Province. Under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, parts of what is now Gosen were under the control of Muramatsu Domain, a minor feudal domain ruled by a junior branch of the Hori clan.[3] The town of Gosen was created within Kitakanbara District, Niigata with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The modern city of Gosen was established on November 3, 1954, from the merger of the town of Gosen with the village of Sumoto, Kawahigashi and Hashida (all from Kitakanbara District). On January 1, 2006, the town of Muramatsu (from Nakakanbara District) was merged into Gosen.

Climate

Gosen has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Gosen is 13.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1886 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around1.3 °C.[4]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Gosen has declined steadily over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 62,038
1980 62,516
1990 61,289
2000 58,820
2010 54,550

Government
Gosen City Hall

Gosen has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.[6]

Economy

The economy of Gosen is primarily agricultural, with production of cut flowers, peonies, satoimo and kiwi fruit as important crops.

Education

Gosen has eleven public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education in the city. The prefecture also operates one special education school.<fref>Gosen Prefectural Special Education School home page(in Japanese)</ref> Niigata University's Department of Agriculture has a field test farm in Gosen.

Transportation

Railway

JR East - Banetsu West Line

Highway

Local attractions
  • Sakihana onsen (咲花温泉)
  • Muramatsu Park (村松公園)
  • Sakihana onsen
  • Sakura in Muramatsu Park

Notable people from Gosen

References
  1. Gosen city official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Gosen official city profile(in Japanese)
  3. Domains of Japan (in Japanese)
  4. Gosen climate data
  5. Gosen population statistics
  6. Gosen City Assembly official home page(in Japanese)
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