Nishigō, Fukushima

Nishigō (西郷村, Nishigō-mura) is a village located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2020, the village had an estimated population of 20,351 in 7618 households [1] and a population density of 110 persons per km2. The total area of the village was 192.06 square kilometres (74.15 sq mi)..

Nishigō

西郷村
Village
Nishigō Village Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Nishigō in Fukushima Prefecture
Nishigō
 
Coordinates: 37°8′30.1″N 140°9′19.3″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima
DistrictNishishirakawa
Area
 • Total192.06 km2 (74.15 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2020)
 • Total20,351
 • Density110/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreeQuercus dentata
• FlowerLysichiton camtschatcensis, rhododendron
• BirdGreen pheasant
Phone number0248-52-2111
AddressKumakura Orikuchihara 40-banchi Nishigō-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima-ken 961-8091
WebsiteOfficial website
Kashi Onsen

Geography

Nishigō is located in the upper reaches of the Abukuma River valley in south-central Fukushima prefecture, bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the south. It is about 185 km north of Tokyo.

  • Mountains: Sanbonyaridake (1916.9m)
  • Rivers: Abukuma River
  • Lakes: Nishigō Dam, Akasaka Dam

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Nishigō has increased over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 6,500—    
1930 7,059+8.6%
1940 7,523+6.6%
1950 11,438+52.0%
1960 11,373−0.6%
1970 10,454−8.1%
1980 12,744+21.9%
1990 16,194+27.1%
2000 18,642+15.1%
2010 19,767+6.0%

Climate

Nishigō has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Nishigō is 10.0 °C (50.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,438 mm (56.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C (77.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 0.9 °C (33.6 °F).[3]

History

The area of present-day Nishigō was part of ancient Mutsu Province. The area was part of the holdings of Shirakawa Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Nishishirakawa District in the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province. Nishigō Village was formed on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Economy

Nishigō has a mixed economy of agriculture and light/precision manufacturing, and is also a bedroom community with many people using the Tohoku Shinkansen to Tokyo, which is 90 minutes away.

Education

Nishigō has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school; however, the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education does operate one special education school.

  • Nishigō First Middle School
  • Nishigō Second Middle School
  • Kawatani Middle School
  • Odakura Elementary School
  • Kumakura Elementary School
  • Yone Elementary School,
  • Habuto Elementary School
  • Kawatani Elementary School

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Tōhoku Shinkansen

Highway

Notable people from Nishigō

Media related to Nishigō, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons

References
  1. Nishigō Village official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Nishigō population statistics
  3. Nishigō climate data
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