Omitama (小美玉市, Omitama-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020[update], the city had an estimated population of 48,776 in 18,311 households and a population density of 337 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 30.0%.[1] The total area of the city is 144.74 square kilometres (55.88 sq mi).
Omitama
小美玉市 | |
|---|---|
 Omitama city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Omitama in Ibaraki Prefecture | |
  Omitama | |
| Coordinates: 36°14′21.4″N 140°21′9.2″E / 36.239278°N 140.352556°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Ibaraki |
| Area | |
| • Total | 144.74 km2 (55.88 sq mi) |
| Population (October 2020) | |
| • Total | 48,754 |
| • Density | 340/km2 (870/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Zelkova serrata |
| - Flower | Cosmos |
| - Bird | Egret |
| Phone number | 0299-48-1111 |
| Address | 835 Katakura, Omitama-shi, Ibarak-ken 319-0192 |
| Website | Official website |
Geography
editOmitama is located in central Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying flatlands north of Lake Kasumigaura.
Surrounding municipalities
editIbaraki Prefecture
Climate
editOmitama has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Omitama is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1357 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Omitama peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 25,143 | — |
| 1930 | 26,330 | +4.7% |
| 1940 | 28,341 | +7.6% |
| 1950 | 37,280 | +31.5% |
| 1960 | 35,675 | −4.3% |
| 1970 | 36,967 | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 48,200 | +30.4% |
| 1990 | 52,269 | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 53,406 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 52,279 | −2.1% |
| 2020 | 48,870 | −6.5% |
History
editThe city of Omitama was established on March 27, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Ogawa and Minori (both from Higashiibaraki District), and the village of Tamari (from Niihari District).[4] The new city took its name from portions of the three older town and village names from which it was formed, Ogawa, Minori, Tamari.
Government
editOmitama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Omitama contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
editAgriculture is the mainstay of the local economy, with cash crops including chives, strawberries, melons, rice and lotus roots.
Omitama is also the home of Ibaraki Airport, which opened in March 2010 after considerable public investment. Its original intention was to attract Low Cost Carriers to an operating centre North of Tokyo. To date it has had some success by attracting Skymark Airlines, Spring Airlines and TigerAir to offer limited domestic and international routes to Xian, Taipei and Shanghai.
Education
editOmitama has 11 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
edit
Railway
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Highway
edit
Jōban Expressway – Minori Parking Area
National Route 6
National Route 355
Airport
editMilitary facilities
editSister cities
edit
Abilene, Kansas, United States
Local attractions
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2015) |
Noted people from Omitama
edit- Yuya Niwa, politician
- Jun Yanagisawa, professional football player
References
edit- ^ "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Omitama climate data
- ^ Omitama population statistics
- ^ 茨城県. "いばらきの市町村合併". 茨城県 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
External links
edit
- Official Website (in Japanese)