Shichinohe (七戸町, Shichinohe-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 14,609 in 6841 households and a population density of 43 persons per km2, in 6,797 households.[1] The total area of the town is 337.23 square kilometers (130.21 sq mi).
Geography
Shichinohe is in central Aomori Prefecture, to the east of the Hakkōda Mountains.
The town has a cold humid climate characterized by cool, short summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classificationCfa). The average annual temperature in Shichinohe is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1233 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.1 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Shichinohe peaked around 1960 and has declined over the past 60 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1920
15,044
—
1930
17,059
+1.26%
1940
20,015
+1.61%
1950
27,036
+3.05%
1960
28,752
+0.62%
1970
23,974
−1.80%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1980
22,707
−0.54%
1990
21,237
−0.67%
2000
19,357
−0.92%
2010
16,763
−1.43%
2020
14,556
−1.40%
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During the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, Shichinohe Village was incorporated. It was elevated to town status in 1949. On 31 March 2005, the neighboring village of Tenmabayashi was merged into the town of Shichinohe. Shichinohe-Towada Station on the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened on 4 December 2010. This restored a rail link to the town after the closure of the Nanbu Jūkan Railway which previously connected Shichinohe Station with Noheji Station on the Tōhoku Main Line until 1997.[4]
Government
Shichinobe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Shichinohe is part of Kamikita District, which contributes four members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Shichinohe is heavily dependent on agriculture and stock raising. Primary crops include rice, Japanese yam and carrots. Dairy farming and racehorse production are also noted industries.
Education
Shichinohe has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education. The town also has one special education school for the handicapped, and an agricultural vocational school.
^"青森朝日放送/ローカル線の旅/南部縦貫鉄道" [Asahi Broadcasting Aomori Local Travel Nanbu Jūkan Railway]. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
^"International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^七戸城跡 しちのへじょうあと. Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
^二ツ森貝塚 ふたつもりかいづか. Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
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