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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Sukagawa, Fukushima
Sukagawa (須賀川市, Sukagawa-shi) is a city located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2018, the city had an estimated population of 76,251 in 38824 households, and a population density of 270 persons per km. The total area of the city was 279.43 square kilometres (107.9 sq mi).

Geography

Sukagawa is located in central Fukushima prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

Sukagawa has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Sukagawa is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,261 mm (49.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C (76.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around 0.1 °C (32.2 °F).

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Sukagawa peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since then.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 45,838—    
1930 52,045+13.5%
1940 54,077+3.9%
1950 71,947+33.0%
1960 69,768−3.0%
1970 66,552−4.6%
1980 69,553+4.5%
1990 73,107+5.1%
2000 79,409+8.6%
2010 79,279−0.2%
2020 75,753−4.4%

History

The area of present-day Sukagawa was part of ancient Mutsu Province. Remains from the Japanese Paleolithic through the Nara period and Heian period indicate continuous settlement of the area for many centuries. Sukagawa developed as a castle town of the Nikaido clan during the Kamakura period. The castle was destroyed by Date Masamune after his aunt Onamihime surrendered the castle during the Sengoku period. 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 mostly administered as an exclave of Takada Domain under the Tokugawa Shogunate. After the Meiji restoration, it was organized as part of the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

The village of Sukagawa was formed on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. However, after mid-Meiji period, the municipality was eclipsed by Kōriyama, 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 resulting in seven fatalities. See also Radiation effects from Fukushima I nuclear accidents.

Government

Sulagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 23 members. Tamura, together with Tamura District contributes three members to the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Fukushima 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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

Education

Sukagawa has 17 public elementary schools and ten public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has five public high schools operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Tōhoku Main Line

JR East – Suigun Line

Highway

Local attractions

International relations

  • China Luoyang, China, friendship city since August 1983

Notable people from Sukagawa

References

  1. ^ Sukagawa City official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. ^ Sukagawa climate data
  3. ^ Sukagawa population statistics
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