Kitashiobara 北塩原村 | |
|---|---|
 Kitashiobara Village Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Kitashiobara in Fukushima Prefecture | |
  Kitashiobara | |
| Coordinates:37°39′20.4″N139°56′15.4″E / 37.655667°N 139.937611°E /37.655667; 139.937611 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Fukushima |
| District | Yama |
| Area | |
• Total | 234.08 km2 (90.38 sq mi) |
| Population (April 2020) | |
• Total | 2,697 |
| • Density | 12/km2 (30/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Prunus sargentii |
| - Flower | Lysichiton camtschatcensis |
| - Bird | Japanese tit |
| Phone number | 0241-23-3111 |
| Address | 3151 Kitayama Kitashiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima-ken 966-0485 |
| Website | Official website |
Kitashiobara (北塩原村,Kitashiobara-mura) is avillage located inFukushima Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 April 2020[update], the village had an estimatedpopulation of 2,697 in 1091 households,[1] and apopulation density of 12 persons per km2. The total area of the village was 234.08 square kilometres (90.38 sq mi).
Kitashiobara is located at the far northernAizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, bordered byYamagata Prefecture to the north. Kitashiobara consists of three areas, named after the former the villages ofKitayama, Ōshio, and Hibara. The western portion, Hibara, has a higher elevation than the other two areas, most of it between 800 m and 1000 m. Also,Lake Hibara in Hibara is located in theBandai-Asahi National Park. It was created in 1888 during the eruption ofMount Bandai. Oguni-numa, a swamp, is reserved by the Japanese government as anatural monument.[2] Some 86% of the village area is covered in mountains and forest.
Fukushima Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
Kitashiobara has aHumid continental climate (KöppenDfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kitashiobara is 7.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1666 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 20.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.9 °C.[3]
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Kitashiobara has declined steadily over the past 40 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 4,482 | — |
| 1930 | 4,368 | −2.5% |
| 1940 | 4,375 | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 5,284 | +20.8% |
| 1960 | 5,351 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 4,287 | −19.9% |
| 1980 | 3,869 | −9.8% |
| 1990 | 3,812 | −1.5% |
| 2000 | 3,644 | −4.4% |
| 2010 | 3,185 | −12.6% |
| 2020 | 2,556 | −19.7% |
The area of present-day Kitashiobara was part of ancientMutsu Province, and formed part of the holdings ofAizu Domain during theEdo period. After theMeiji Restoration, it was organized as part ofYama District, Fukushima Prefecture. The villages of Kitayama, Ōshio and Hibara. were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1884. The three villages merged to form the village of Kitashiobara village was created on March 31, 1954.
The economy of Kitashiobara is dependent on agriculture, seasonal tourism, and the mining of salt.
Kitashiobara has two public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the village government. The village does not have a public high school.
Media related toKitashiobara, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons| Core cities |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Cities | ||
| Districts | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
