Towada, Aomori

Towada
十和田市
City
Oirase Valley in Towada

Flag
Seal

Location of Towada in Aomori Prefecture
Towada
 
Coordinates: 40°36′45.7″N 141°12′21.1″E / 40.612694°N 141.205861°E / 40.612694; 141.205861Coordinates: 40°36′45.7″N 141°12′21.1″E / 40.612694°N 141.205861°E / 40.612694; 141.205861
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Hisashi Oyamada (since January 2009)
Area
 • Total 725.65 km2 (280.18 sq mi)
Population (February 28, 2017)
 • Total 62,870
 • Density 86.7/km2 (225/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree Japanese Red Pine
- Flower Azalea
Phone number 0176-23-5111
Address 6-1 Nishi Jūniban-chō, Towada-shi, Aomori-ken 034-8615
Website www.city.towada.lg.jp
Towada City Hall

Towada (十和田市, Towada-shi) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 28 February 2017, the city had an estimated population of 62,870, and a population density of 86.7 persons per km² in 27,399 households.[1] The total area is 725.65 square kilometres (280.18 sq mi).

Geography

Towada is located in the foothills of the Hakkoda Mountains and encompasses the Aomori portion of Lake Towada. The Oirase River passes through the town. The city has a cold humid climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Towada is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1233 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.3 °C.[2] Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Towada peaked at around the year 2000, and has been in decline thereafter.

Census Year Population
1970 59,719
1980 67,050
1990 68,097
2000 69,630
2010 66,123

History

The area around present-day Towada was formerly a wasteland known as Sanbongihara (三本木原), which became the location of a colonization and land reclamation project initiated by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain from 1855. The project was headed by Nitobe Tsutō, the grandfather of Inazō Nitobe. The project was continued by the Meiji government, and the area was designated a ranch area for breeding cavalry horses by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1885. The inclement climate of the area was considered ideal for breeding horses that would be suitable for use in the cold climate areas of Manchuria and Siberia. The village of Sanbongi was established with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1910, Sanbongi was designated a town. It was elevated to the status of a city on February 1, 1955. In October 1956, it changed its name to “Towada”.

On January 1, 2005, the town of Towadako (from Kamikita District) was merged into Towada.

Government

Towada has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Economy

The economy of Towada is based largely on agriculture.

Education

Colleges and universities

High schools

Towada has four public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education

  • Sanbongi High School
  • Sanbongi Agriculture High School
  • Towada Technical High School
  • Towada Nishi High School

Elementary schools and middle schools

There are 17 public elementary schools and 9 public middle schools in Towada operated by the municipal government, and one middle school operated by the prefectural government.

Transportation

Railway

Towada currently has no passenger railway service. The Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line connecting Towada with Misawa had five stations within the city. It was discontinued in 2012 and replaced by a bus service.

Highway

Local attractions

International relations

Noted people from Towada

References

  1. ↑ Official home page
  2. ↑ Towada climate data
  3. ↑ Towada population statistics
  4. ↑ "100 Soundscapes of Japan". Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Ministry of Environment
  6. ↑ "Collection". Towada Art Center. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  7. ↑ Lethbridge Twinning Society homepage
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