Chiayi County

Chiayi County
嘉義縣
County

Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 23°29′46.34″N 120°38′30.75″E / 23.4962056°N 120.6418750°E / 23.4962056; 120.6418750Coordinates: 23°29′46.34″N 120°38′30.75″E / 23.4962056°N 120.6418750°E / 23.4962056; 120.6418750
Country Republic of China (Taiwan)
Region Southwestern Taiwan
Seat Taibao City
Largest city Minxiong
Boroughs 2 cities, 16 (2 urban, 14 rural) townships
Government
 • County Magistrate Helen Chang (DPP)
Area
 • Total 1,901.67 km2 (734.24 sq mi)
Area rank 10 of 22
Population (December 2014)
 • Total 524,783[1]
 • Rank 14 of 22
Time zone UTC+8 (National Standard Time)
Website cyhg.gov.tw
Chiayi County
Traditional Chinese 嘉義縣
Simplified Chinese 嘉义县

Chiayi County (Chinese: 嘉義縣) is a county in southwestern Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City. It is the sixth largest county in Taiwan.

Name

The former Chinese placename was Tsu-lo-san[2] (Chinese: 諸羅山; pinyin: Zhūluóshān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chu-lô-san), a representation of the original Formosan-language name Tirosen. A shortened version, Tsulo, was then used to name Tsulo County, which originally covered the underdeveloped northern two-thirds of the island. In 1704, the county seat was moved to Tsulosan, the site of modern-day Chiayi City. Following the 1723 Zhu Yigui rebellion, the county was reduced in size. In 1787, the county and city were renamed Kagee (嘉義; literally: "commended righteousness") to acknowledge the citizens' loyalty during the Lin Shuangwen rebellion.

History

Empire of Japan

From 1920, during the Japanese rule of Taiwan, the area of Tainan Prefecture covered modern-day Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan and Yunlin County.

Republic of China

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the area of present-day Chiayi County was administered under Tainan County. In October 1950, Taiwan Provincial Government formed the Chiayi County Government and Chiayi County was established as a county of Taiwan Province in the same month. Chiayi City was subsequently downgraded from a provincial city and designed as the county seat of Chiayi County.[3]

In December 1978, the Executive Yuan approved the upgrade of Chiayi City to become a provincial city, thus in December 1981, Chiayi County government relocated the county capital to Dongshiliao Farm in Taibao Township and Chiayi City finally became a provincial city in July 1982.

In March 1989, Wufong Township was renamed to Alishan Township and in July 1991, Taibao Township was restructured to become Taibao City. In November 1991, Chiayi County government relocated the county capital from Dongshiliao Farm to Hsiangho New Village in Taibao City.[4] Puzi Township was restructured to a county-controlled city in September 1992.

Geography

Chiayi County is bordered with Mount Yu to the east, Taiwan Strait to the west, Tainan City to the south and Yunlin County to the north. It spans over 1,903 km2 (735 sq mi), about 5.35% of Taiwan area. Due to its location along the Tropic of Cancer path, Chiayi County has a unique landscape with other regions in Taiwan.[5]

Administration

Helen Chang, the incumbent Magistrate of Chiayi County
Chiayi County Government
Chiayi County Council

Chiayi County is divided into 2 cities, 2 urban townships, 13 rural townships and 1 mountain indigenous township. Taibao City is the seat of Chiayi County and is home to Chiayi County Government. The Chiayi County Council is however located in Puzi City. Helen Chang of the Democratic Progressive Party is the incumbent Magistrate of Chiayi County.

TypeNameChineseTaiwaneseHakkaFormosan
Cities Taibao City太保市Thài-póThai-pó
Puzi City朴子市Phò-chúPhú-chṳ́
Urban
townships		 Budai布袋鎮Pò͘-tēPu-thoi
Dalin大林鎮Tōa-nâThai-lìm
Rural
townships		 Dapu大埔鄉Tōa-po͘Thai-phû
Dongshi東石鄉Tang-chio̍hTûng-sa̍k
Fanlu番路鄉Hoan-lō͘Fân-lu
Liujiao六腳鄉La̍k-khaLiuk-kiok
Lucao鹿草鄉Lok-chháuLu̍k-tshó
Meishan梅山鄉Bôe-sanMòi-sân
Minxiong民雄鄉Bîn-hiôngMìn-hiùng
Shuishang水上鄉Chhúi-siāngSúi-song
Xikou溪口鄉Khe-kháuHâi-khiéu
Xingang新港鄉Sin-kángSîn-kóng
Yizhu義竹鄉Gī-tekNgi-tsuk
Zhongpu中埔鄉Tiong-po͘Chûng-phû
Zhuqi竹崎鄉Tek-kiāTsuk-khì
Mountain
indigenous
township		 Alishan阿里山鄉A-lí-sanÂ-lî-sânPsoseonganaTsou

Color indicates the common language status of Formosan languages within each division.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985 569,932—    
1990 552,277−3.1%
1995 565,804+2.4%
2000 562,305−0.6%
2005 553,841−1.5%
2010 543,248−1.9%
2015 519,839−4.3%
Source:"Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census.

The current population of Chiayi County as of December 2014 is 524,783 people. The county has been experiencing a population decline since 2009 due to higher migration out of the county and higher death rate than birth rate.[1] In 2013, the birthrate in the county was 5.89, lower than the average Taiwan of 8.91, the second lowest after Keelung.[6]

Education

National Chung Cheng University

Chiayi County is home to the government-owned National Chung Cheng University and National Chiayi University. Private universities and colleges including Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Nanhua University, Toko University and WuFeng University. Education-related affairs in the county is managed by the Educational Department of Chiayi County Government.

Economy

Over the past 20 years, Chiayi County had often been left out in the regional economic development due to its less strategic location, lack of infrastructure and appropriate industrial land to attract manufacturers to set up factories in the area. All of the existing industrial parks in the county were built before 1981. Class 2 and class 3 industries have been developing slowly throughout Chiayi, thus the economic development is sluggish as well, resulting in slow urban development.

Three industrial parks named the Dapumei Industrial Park (大埔美工業區), Ma Chou Hou Industrial Park (馬稠後工業區) and Budai Intelligent Industrial Park are currently under planning in the county.[6][7] Industrial parks in the neighboring counties and cities also contributed to the difficulty of industrial developments in Chiayi County.

Energy

The Zengwen Hydroelectric Plant and Chiahui Gas-Fired Power Plant boasted the total national grid capacity of 50 MW and 670 MW respectively. Both of the power plants are located in the county.

Incinerator in the county is Lutsao Refuse Incineration Plant.

Tourist attractions

Alishan National Scenic Area
High-Heel Wedding Church

Museums

Notable museums, cultural centers and monuments in Chiayi County are the Mei-Ling Fine Arts Museum, National Radio Museum, Ping Huang Coffee Museum, Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, Xikou Township Cultural Life Center and Tropic of Cancer Monument.

Natural

Bordered by mountains on one side and sea on the other side, Chiayi County holds three major national parks, which are Alishan National Scenic Area, Southwest Coast National Scenic Area and Siraya National Scenic Area, each represents a unique view of nature's wonders, from mountains, plains to ocean views.[8] It also houses the Chukou Nature Center, Haomeiliao Wetland and Meishan Park.

Dams

The county also has the following dams, which are Renyitan Dam and Zengwen Dam.

Buildings

The county houses the Dongshi Fisherman's Wharf, Chiayi Performing Arts Center and High-Heel Wedding Church.

Transportation

Chiayi Airport
THSR Chiayi Station

Air

Chiayi County is served by Chiayi Airport located at Shuishang Township, Taibao City and neighboring Chiayi City.

Rail

The Taiwan High Speed Rail destination to Chiayi County stops at Chiayi Station in Taibao City. Taiwan Railways Administration stations include the Dalin Station, Minxiong Station, Nanjing Station and Shuishang Station. The county also houses the Alishan Forest Railway leading to Alishan National Scenic Area.

Water

The county houses the Budai Harbor in Budai Township.[9]

Relative location

References

  1. 1 2 "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-Population-Population". cyhg.gov.tw.
  2. ↑ Campbell, William (1903). "Explanatory Notes". Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island. London: Kegan Paul. p. 549. OCLC 644323041.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-History-Republic of China Era (1945－)". cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28.
  4. ↑ "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-History-Republic of China Era (1945－)". Cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-Geography-Geography". cyhg.gov.tw.
  6. 1 2 "Chiayi's low birthrate is problem for education". taipeitimes.com.
  7. ↑ http://invest.cyhg.gov.tw/english/CP.aspx?s=67&n=10125
  8. ↑ "Attractions > Hot Spots > Chiayi County >". taiwan.net.tw.
  9. ↑ Liao, George (1 October 2017). "An amazing trip to Taiwan's Penghu County in three days". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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