Liushuquan

In 1506 (the first year of the Zhengde era 正德元年), the Xihe (West River) village was established. The village is named after the shallow river to the west of the village. The West River itself is so named because it is west of the Dadou River. According to tradition, the West River was formerly a canal that reached Beijing. The village was originally named Xihedian (West River Store 西河店).[1]

In 1644, the villages of Liu De Zhuang (刘德庄) and Xiaxin Zhuang (夏新庄) were established around the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. Liu De Zhuang takes its name from Liu De (刘德), a member of the Ming court who left the capital and took residence in the area. Xiaxin Zhuang was established in the same year to the south of Liu De Zhuang. Its name derives from reference to the depressed land around the Bo Sea.[1]

In 1650, the village of Hanjiaquan (Han Family Quan) was established on the western bank of the Dadou River. Its name derives from settlers of the Han family, and reference to the geographical feature 'quan'. (该地为低洼滩草圈与水圈地带)[1]

In 1662 (the first year of the Kangxi era 清康熙元年), the village of Liushuquan (Willow Tree Quan) for which the town of Liushuquan is named was established by migrants from Hangu, Tianjin (present-day Binhai) who planted willow trees on the border of their village.[1] This village was later divided into Liushuquan Bei (North Liushuquan), Liushuquan Dong (East Liushuquan) and Liushuquan Qian.

In 1671 (the tenth year of the Kangxi era 康熙十年), Jimen (戟门) was established on the western bank of the Dadou River.

In 1682 (the twenty first year of the Kangxi era 康熙二十一年), Laopu (老铺) was established on the eastern bank of the Dadou River. Laopu's name references the old pu of settler Li Hongshen (李洪深).

In 1736 (the first year of the Qianlong era 清乾隆元年), Li Fu Zhuang (李富庄) was established to the southwest of Liu De Zhuang. The name of the village is derived from the Li family and the rich natural resources of the village.[1]

In 1755 (the twentieth year of the Qianlong era 清乾隆二十年), Aoli (廒里 Áolǐ) was established south of Jimen on the Dadou River. The village's name is derived from the practice of boiling seawater (熬盐 áoyán) which is a homophone of áo 廒.[1]

In 1954, Laopu Township (老铺乡) was established.

In August 1958, Laopu Township was made into a people's commune (老铺公社).[1]

In 1968, Sangou (三沟 Third Channel) was established. The area was originally part of a marsh which was divided into four channels. Settlers from nearby Jimen migrated east to the former location of the third channel, and their new village used the name of the former channel.[1]

In 1982, the name of Laopu Commune was changed to Liushuquan Commune (柳树瞿阝公社).

In 1984, Liushuquan Commune was changed into a township(乡).

In 1985, Liushuquan Township was elevated to a town (镇).

In 1997, it had a total area of 103 km2, a population of 25,000, and was made up of 18 village-level(村) divisions.[1]

In 2005, Qianjin (Progress), Dongfeng (Eastern Wind),and Hongxing (Red Star) were combined into First West River Village. Xiangyang and Shengli were combined into Second West River Village. Hongqi and Yonghong were combined into Third West River Village.[1]

There are 14 (previously 18) villages (行政村) in Liushuquan:[1][4][5]