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Samukawa

Coordinates: 35°22′36″N 139°23′05″E / 35.37667°N 139.38472°E / 35.37667; 139.38472
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Samukawa
寒川町
Samukawa Town Hall
Samukawa Town Hall
Flag of Samukawa
Official logo of Samukawa
Location of Samukawa in Kanagawa Prefecture
Location of Samukawa in Kanagawa Prefecture
Samukawa is located in Japan
Samukawa
Samukawa
 
Coordinates: 35°22′36″N 139°23′05″E / 35.37667°N 139.38472°E / 35.37667; 139.38472
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureKanagawa
DistrictKōza
Area
 • Total13.42 km2 (5.18 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2021)
 • Total48,679
 • Density3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeOsmanthus
- FlowerNarcissus
- BirdGreat egret
Phone number0467-74-1111
Address165 Miyayama, Samukawa-machi, Kōza-gun, Kanagawa-ken 253-0196
WebsiteOfficial website
Samukawa Central Park
Kanagawa Waterworks Museum

Samukawa (寒川町, Samukawa-machi) is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2021, the town had an estimated population of 48,679 and a population density of 3600 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 13.42 square kilometres (5.18 sq mi).

Geography

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Samukawa is located in the flatlands of central Kanagawa Prefecture. The Sagami River passes through the town.

Surrounding municipalities

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Kanagawa Prefecture

Climate

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Samukawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Samukawa is 15.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1872 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 5.2 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Samukawa has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 5,364—    
1930 5,948+10.9%
1940 6,772+13.9%
1950 11,206+65.5%
1960 11,564+3.2%
1970 22,946+98.4%
1980 36,417+58.7%
1990 44,532+22.3%
2000 46,369+4.1%
2010 47,672+2.8%
2020 48,348+1.4%

History

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The village of Samukawa was founded in 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was linked with Chigasaki Station by the Sagami Line in 1921. A spur line extending from Samukawa to the west led to development of housing and industry, increasing the population of Samukawa such that by 1940 it was granted town status. The Sagami Naval Arsenal of the Imperial Japanese Navy was located in Samukawa until the end of World War II. In 2002, a large quantity of mustard gas was found buried under its former site.

Government

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Samukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members. Samukawa contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Samukawa has a mixed economy. Industry includes factories operated by Nissan Kohki, a subsidiary of Nissan Motors producing automotive engines.

Education

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Samukawa has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education

Transportation

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Railway

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JR East - Sagami Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ "Samukawa town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Samukawa climate data
  3. ^ Samukawa population statistics
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