Sukagawa, Fukushima

Sukagawa
須賀川市
City

Skyline of Sukagawa

Flag
Seal

Location of Sukagawa in Fukushima Prefecture
Sukagawa

 

Coordinates: 37°17′11.3″N 140°22′21.6″E / 37.286472°N 140.372667°E / 37.286472; 140.372667Coordinates: 37°17′11.3″N 140°22′21.6″E / 37.286472°N 140.372667°E / 37.286472; 140.372667
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture
Government
 • - Mayor Katsuya Hashimoto
Area
 • Total 279.55 km2 (107.93 sq mi)
Population (November 2014)
 • Total 76,976
 • Density 275/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols  
• Tree Pinus densiflora
• Flower Peony
• Bird Common kingfisher
Phone number 0248-75-1111
Address 135 Hachimanmachi, Sukagawa-shi, Fukushima-ken 962-8601
Website www.city.sukagawa.fukushima.jp

Sukagawa (須賀川市 Sukagawa-shi) is a city located in Fukushima Prefecture, in northern Honshū, Japan. As of November 2014, the city had an estimated population of 76,976 and a population density of 275 persons per km2. The total area was 279.55 square kilometres (107.9 sq mi).

Geography

Sukagawa is located in central Fukushima prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

History

The area of present-day Sukagawa was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Edo period the area prospered from its location as a major lodging place on Ōshū Kaidō, which is one of the Edo Five Routes, and was the commercial center in the region. The area was administered as part of Shirakawa Domain. After the Meiji restoration, it was organized as part of Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

The village of Sukagawa was formed on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system. However, after mid-Meiji period, the municipality was eclipsed by Koriyama, which had succeeded in inviting the junction of West Ban'etsu Line with the Tōhoku Main Line train routes. On March 31, 1954 Sukagawa was elevated to city status after merging with the town of Hamada and villages of Nishibukuro and Inada (all from Iwase District), and the village of Oshioe (from Ishikawa District). Later, Sukagawa absorbed Niida Village (from Iwase District) on March 10, 1955, and then absorbed Ohigashi Village (from Ishikawa District) on February 1, 1967. On April 1, 2005, Sukagawa absorbed the town of Naganuma and village Iwase (both from Iwase District).

After the earthquake of 2011, the Fujinuma Dam collapsed and a part of the city was destroyed. See also Radiation effects from Fukushima I nuclear accidents.

Economy

Sukagawa has a mixed economy, and is a major commercial center for the surrounding region.

Education

Sukagawa has five high schools, ten junior high schools, and seventeen elementary schools.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Local attractions

International relations

Noted people from Sukagawa

Media related to Sukagawa, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/6/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.