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Shimogō, Fukushima

Coordinates: 37°15′20.3″N 139°52′19.8″E / 37.255639°N 139.872167°E / 37.255639; 139.872167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shimogō
下郷町
Ouchi-juku in Shimogō
Ouchi-juku in Shimogō
Flag of Shimogō
Official seal of Shimogō
Location of Shimogōin Fukushima Prefecture
Location of Shimogōin Fukushima Prefecture
Shimogō is located in Japan
Shimogō
Shimogō
 
Coordinates: 37°15′20.3″N 139°52′19.8″E / 37.255639°N 139.872167°E / 37.255639; 139.872167
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima
DistrictMinamiaizu
Area
 • Total317.04 km2 (122.41 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2020)
 • Total5,517
 • Density17/km2 (45/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeBetula pendula
• FlowerWisteria floribunda
• BirdJapanese bush-warbler
• FishIwana
Phone number0241-69-1122
Address1000 Ōaza Shiosei, Shimogō-machi, Fukushima-ken 969-5345
WebsiteOfficial website
Shimogō town hall

Shimogō (下郷町, Shimogō-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 5,517 in 2216 households[1] and a population density of 17 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 317.04 square kilometres (122.41 sq mi).

Geography

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Snow covered Aga River, Shimogō

Shimogō is located in the mountainous southern portion of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, bordered Tochigi Prefecture to the south.

Neighboring municipalities

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Climate

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Shimogō has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shimogō is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1365 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.2 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Shimogō peaked in the 1950s and has declined steadily over the past 60 years. It now[vague] raises less tax than it did a century ago.[citation needed]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 9,854—    
1930 11,681+18.5%
1940 12,304+5.3%
1950 14,644+19.0%
1960 14,234−2.8%
1970 11,077−22.2%
1980 10,025−9.5%
1990 8,537−14.8%
2000 7,579−11.2%
2010 6,464−14.7%
2020 5,264−18.6%

History

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The area of present-day Shimogō was part of ancient Mutsu Province and formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Minamiaizu District in Fukushima Prefecture. The village of Naraha was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1,1 889. It was raised to town status on November 20, 1946. Shimogō was established on April 1, 1955 by the merger of the town of Narahara with the neighboring villages of Ashida and Egawa.

Economy

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The economy of Shimogō is based on agriculture and seasonal tourism.

Education

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Shimogō has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a public high school.

  • Shimogō City Asahida Elementary School
  • Shimogō City Egawa Elementary School
  • Shimogō City Narahara Elementary School
  • Shimogō City Shimogō Middle School

Transportation

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Railway

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Aizu RailwayAizu Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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References

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Media related to Shimogō, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons