Takahata (高畠町, Takahata-machi) is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019[update], the town had an estimated population of 23,367, in 7629 households,[1] and a population density of 130 persons per km². The total area of the town is 180.26 square kilometres (70 sq mi).
Geography
Takahata is located in mountainous southeastern Yamagata Prefecture. The Mogami River flows through the town.
Takahata has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa/Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Takahata is 11.2 °C (52.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,283.0 mm (50.51 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.3 °C (75.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.9 °C (30.4 °F).[2]
Climate data for Takahata (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Takahata has declined slightly in recent decades.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1960
32,136
—
1970
27,760
−13.6%
1980
27,440
−1.2%
1990
27,510
+0.3%
2000
26,807
−2.6%
2010
25,025
−6.6%
2020
22,463
−10.2%
History
The area of present-day Takahata was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, it was a castle town ruled by a branch of the Oda clan until their transfer to Tendō Domain, and afterwards a portion was controlled by the Yonezawa Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Higashiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Takahata was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on December 12, 1895, and the kanji used to write its name assumed its present form in January 1905.
Economy
The economy of Takahata is based on agriculture and forestry. The town is noted for its production Delaware grapes and for its wine.
Education
Takahata has six public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. .
^"International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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