Ageo (上尾市, Ageo-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of February 1, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 230,041 in 107,555 households and a population density of 5100 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 45.51 square kilometres (17.57 sq mi).

Ageo
上尾市
Ageo City Hall
Ageo City Hall
Flag of Ageo
Official seal of Ageo
Location of Ageo in Saitama Prefecture
Location of Ageo in Saitama Prefecture
Ageo is located in Japan
Ageo
Ageo
Coordinates: 35°58′38.6″N 139°35′35.5″E / 35.977389°N 139.593194°E / 35.977389; 139.593194
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureSaitama
Area
 • Total45.51 km2 (17.57 sq mi)
Population
 (February 1, 2024)
 • Total230,041
 • Density5,100/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeOsmanthus
- FlowerAzalea
Phone number048-775-5111
Address3-1-1 Honchō, Ageo-shi, Saitama-ken 362-8501
Website Official website
Ageo Maruyama Park

Geography

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Ageo is located in the Kanto Plain, slightly east of the center of Saitama Prefecture, and there are no mountains in the city. The city is roughly 10.48 km east–west and 9.32 km north–south. It partially touches the left bank of the Arakawa River.The Kamo River and Shiba River flow through the city. The Ayase River forms the boundary to the east and the Egara, a tributary of the Arakawa River forms the northwest boundary.

Surrounding municipalities

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Climate

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Ageo has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ageo is 14.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1388 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.9 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ageo expanded rapidly in the late 20th century and has grown at a slower pace in the 21st.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 19,912—    
1930 20,578+3.3%
1940 23,551+14.4%
1950 32,673+38.7%
1960 38,889+19.0%
1970 110,792+184.9%
1980 166,243+50.0%
1990 194,947+17.3%
2000 212,947+9.2%
2010 223,926+5.2%
2020 226,940+1.3%

History

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Ageo-shuku, a post town on the Nakasendō highway flourished during the Edo period. Ageo's rail station opened in 1883. In 1889, Ageo-juku merged with the hamlets of Ageoshimo, Kashiwaza, Kasugayatsu and Yatsu to form the town of Ageo with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two towns of Hirakata and Haraichi and the three villages of Kamihira, Ōishi and Ōya merged with the town of Ageo on January 1, 1955, which was elevated city status on July 15, 1958. In the 1960s, four large-scale public housing complexes were established, forming new town developments which greatly expanded the city's population. A proposal to merge with the neighboring city of Saitama was rejected by referendum in 2001.

Government

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Ageo has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 30 members. Ageo, together with the town of Ina, contributes three members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Ageo was a noted agricultural area well into the 20th century, and various vegetables were cultivated. Agricultural land in the city area is declining, but in addition to pears, grapes and kiwis, various items such as tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach are produced. In the second half of the 20th century, numerous metallurgical and automobile factories were constructed, and UD Trucks and Bridgestone Cycle remain major employers. Due to its geographic location, Ageo is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for Saitama City and Tokyo.

Education

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  • Seigakuin University
  • Ageo has 22 public elementary schools and 11 public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there is one private high school. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR EastTakasaki Line

  Saitama New Urban Transit - New Shuttle

Highway

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Sports

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Sister cities

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Notable people from Ageo

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References

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  1. ^ "Ageo city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ageo climate data". Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Ageo population statistics". Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
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  Media related to Ageo, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons