Dezhou or De Prefecture (德州) was a zhou (prefecture) in imperial China, centering on modern Dezhou, Shandong, China. It existed (intermittently) from 589 until 1913.

The modern prefectural-level city Dezhou, created in 1948, retains its name.

Geography

The administrative region of De Prefecture in the Tang dynasty is in modern northern Shandong and southeastern Hebei. It probably includes parts of modern:

• Under the administration of Dezhou, Shandong:
  • Dezhou
  • Pingyuan County
• Under the administration of Hengshui, Hebei:
  • Jing County
• Under the administration of Cangzhou, Hebei:
  • Wuqiao County