Agano, Niigata

Agano (阿賀野市, Agano-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the city had an estimated population of 41,204 in 14,417 households,[1] and a population density of 214 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 192.74 square kilometres (74.42 sq mi).[2]

Agano

阿賀野市
City
Central Suibara, center of Agano city
Flag
Seal
Location of Agano in Niigata Prefecture
Agano
 
Coordinates: 37°50′4″N 139°13′33.6″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
Government
 • MayorKiyoyoshi Tanaka (since April 2012)
Area
 • Total192.74 km2 (74.42 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
 • Total41,204
 • Density210/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeSakura
• FlowerCosmos
• BirdSwan
Phone number0250-62-2510
Address10–15 Okayama, Agano-shi, Niigata-ken 959–2092
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography
Komabayashi River

Agano is located in an inland region of north-central Niigata Prefecture. As the city name implies, the Agano River flows through the west side of the city. The highest elevation is the summit of Mount Gozu at 912 meters. Approximately one third of the city area is covered in mountains and forests, and slightly over one third is farmland.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Agano has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Agano is 13.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1874 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.4 °C.[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Agano has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 47,582
1980 47,490
1990 48,465
2000 48,456
2010 45,560

History
Suibara Magistrate's Office
4 former municipalities merged to establish Agano City (Suibara, Yasuda, Kyōgase and Sasakami)

The area of present-day Agano was part of ancient Echigo Province. During the Edo period the area was divided between territories controlled by Shibata Domain, Murakami Domain and tenryō territory held directly by the Tokugawa shogunate. The area was organised as part of Kitakanbara District, Niigata following the Meiji restoration, and the town of Suibara and villages of Yasuda, Kyōgase and Sasakami were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Yasuda was raised to town status in 1960. The city of Agano was established on April 1, 2004, with the merger of these four municipalities.[2]

Economy
Yasuda roof tiles

The economy of Agano is dominated by agriculture, including livestock production and cut flowers, but paddy rice remains the dominant crop. In the manufacturing industry, the city has factories for the production of computer related parts manufacturing, food processing, furniture, ceramics and stone products.[2]

Government
Agano City Hall

Agano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.[5]

Education

Agano has eleven public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government. There is one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Uetsu Main Line

Highway

Local attractions
  • Lake Hyōko (Ramsar site)
  • Mount Gozu
  • Yasuda Tile Road (やすだ瓦ロード, Yasuda Kawara Road)
  • Gozu onsen area (五頭温泉郷, Gozu onsen gō)
    • Deyu onsen (出湯温泉)
    • Murasugi onsen (村杉温泉)
    • Imaita onsen (今板温泉)
  • Suntopia World amusement park (サントピアワールド)
  • Lake Hyōko with overwintering swans
  • Yasuda Tile Road
  • Deyu Onsen
  • Suntopia World

Local foods

Notable people from Agano, Niigata

References
  1. Agano city official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Agano city official profile (in Japanese)
  3. Agano climate data
  4. Agano population statistics
  5. http://www.city.agano.niigata.jp/site/gikai/ Agano City Assembly official website](in Japanese)
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