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Hirokawa, Fukuoka

Coordinates: 33°14′30″N 130°33′05″E / 33.24167°N 130.55139°E / 33.24167; 130.55139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hirokawa
広川町
Hirokawa Town Hall
Hirokawa Town Hall
Flag of Hirokawa
Official seal of Hirokawa
Map
Location of Hirokawa in Fukuoka Prefecture
Location of Hirokawa
Hirokawa is located in Japan
Hirokawa
Hirokawa
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°14′30″N 130°33′05″E / 33.24167°N 130.55139°E / 33.24167; 130.55139
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureFukuoka
DistrictYame
Area
 • Total37.94 km2 (14.65 sq mi)
Population
 (February 1, 2024)
 • Total19,215
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1804-1 Shindai, Hirokawa-cho, Yame-gun, Fukuoka-ken 834-0115
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush warbler
FlowerWisteria floribunda
TreeSakura
Zenzozuka Kofun

Hirokawa (広川町, Hirokawa-machi) is a town located in Yame District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2024, the town had an estimated population of 19,215 in 8186 households, and a population density of 510 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the town is 37.94 km2 (14.65 sq mi).

Geography

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Hirokawa is located in an inland area of southern Fukuoka Prefecture. The western part of the town is on the eastern edge of the Chikugo Plain, and is close to the urban areas of Kurume and Yame.The eastern part of the town is a mountainous area with traditional hamlets.

Neighboring municipalities

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Fukuoka Prefecture

Climate

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Hirokawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hirokawa is 15.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1946 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Hirokawa is as shown below

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 15,833—    
1970 15,065−4.9%
1980 17,154+13.9%
1990 18,629+8.6%
2000 19,779+6.2%
2010 20,253+2.4%
2020 19,951−1.5%

History

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The area of Hirokawa was part of ancient Buzen Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Kokura Domain. The villages of Kamihirokawa, Nakahirokawa and Shimohirokawa were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On April 1, 1955 Kamihirokawa and Nakahirokawa Ueno merged to form the town of Hirokawa. Parts of Shimohirokawa were added on December 1, 1955.

Government

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Hirokawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Hirokawa, collectively with the city of Yame, contributes two members to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Fukuoka 7th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Hirokawa was traditionally based on agriculture, with products including strawberries, grapes, pears, and Yamecha tea. After plans to merge with either neighboring Kurume or Yame failed to gain popular support, the town developed an industrial park next to the Hirokawa Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway,

Education

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Hirokawa has four public elementary high schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railways

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Hirokawa does not have any passenger railway service. Buses connect to the town from Nishitetsu Kurume Station, Hanabatake Station, and JR Kyushu Kurume Station. JR Kyushu Nishimuta Station and Nishitetsu Daizenji Station are close to the western part of the town and are accessible in about 15 minutes by car

Highways

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Sister cities

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Notable people from Hirokawa

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References

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  1. ^ "Hirokawa Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Hirokawa climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
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