Agano (阿賀野市, Agano-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019[update], 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]
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.
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 was relatively stable throughout the late 20th century but has declined in the 21st.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1970
47,582
—
1980
47,490
−0.2%
1990
48,465
+2.1%
2000
48,456
−0.0%
2010
45,560
−6.0%
2020
40,696
−10.7%
History
Suibara Magistrate's Office4 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.[citation needed]
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