Shinchi, Fukushima

Shinchi (新地町, Shinchi-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2020, the town has an estimated population of 8,152, and a population density of 170 inhabitants per square kilometre (440/sq mi) in 2832 households.[1] The total area is 46.70 square kilometres (18.03 sq mi).[2]

Shinchi

新地町
Town
Shinchi Town Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Shinchi in Fukushima Prefecture
Shinchi
 
Coordinates: 37°52′34.7″N 140°55′10.6″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima Prefecture
DistrictSōma
Area
 • Total46.70 km2 (18.03 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2020)
 • Total8,152
 • Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreePine
• FlowerSakura
• BirdGreen pheasant
• FishPleuronectidae
Phone number0244-62-2111
AddressYachikoya, Shinchi-machi, Sōma-gun, Fukushima-ken 979-2792
WebsiteOfficial website
Shinchi Station after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami

Geography

Shinchi is located in the far northeastern Hamadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, bordering on Miyagi Prefecture to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The population center and town hall is in the northern part of the town, and the western part of the town is hilly.

Surrounding municipalities

Fukushima Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

Climate

Shinchi has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Shinchi is 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,259 mm (49.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.7 °C (76.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C (34.9 °F).[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Shinchi was relatively constant over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 7,799—    
1930 8,651+10.9%
1940 8,802+1.7%
1950 12,060+37.0%
1960 10,494−13.0%
1970 8,646−17.6%
1980 8,704+0.7%
1990 8,904+2.3%
2000 9,017+1.3%
2010 8,224−8.8%

History

The area of present-day Shinchi was part of Mutsu Province, and Kofun period remains have been found in the area. During the Nara period, it was part of ancient Futaba District in Iwaki Province. During the Edo period, it was part of Uda District, which was divided into 51 villages, nine of which (including the coast) was part of the holdings of Sendai Domain, and the remaining 42 of which were ruled by Sōma Domain, ruled by the Sōma clan under the Tokugawa shogunate until the Meiji restoration. On April 1, 1889, the village of Shinchi was created within Uda District, Fukushima with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Uda District became Sōma District in 1896. On April 20, 1954 Shinchi annexed the neighboring villages of Fukuda and Komagamine. Shinchi was elevated to town status on August 1, 1971.

2011 earthquake and tsunami

The eastern, coastal portion of Shinchi was inundated by tsunami flood waters following the magnitude 9.0 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami off its coastline on March 11, 2011. The tsunami destroyed 577 houses, or approximately half the homes in the town, and the final death toll was 116 residents.

Government

Shinchi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Shinchi, together with the city of Soma, collectively contributes one seat to the Fukushima Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Fukushima 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Shinchi is primarily agricultural. The Shinchi Thermal Power Station is located in the town.

Education

Shinchi has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Jōban Line

Highway

Local attractions

Noted people from Shinchi

References
  1. Shinchi town official home page (in Japanese)
  2. "Home" (in Japanese). Shinchi Town. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. Shinchi climate data
  4. Shinchi population statistics
  5. "新地貝塚附手長明神社跡" [Shinchi kaizuka tsuketari Tenagamyō Jinja ato] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.

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