Yamanobe (山辺町, Yamanobe-machi) is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 14,174 in 4839 households,[1] and a population density of 230 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 61.36 square kilometres (24 sq mi).

Geography

Yamanobe is located in the southeast end of the Yamagata Basin in central Yamagata Prefecture, surrounded by mountains. Mount Shirataka is partially within the borders of the town.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

Yamanobe has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) 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 Yamanobe is 10.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1546 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yamanobe peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 13,884—    
1930 15,037+8.3%
1940 14,878−1.1%
1950 17,368+16.7%
1960 15,881−8.6%
1970 14,825−6.6%
1980 14,281−3.7%
1990 15,016+5.1%
2000 15,521+3.4%
2010 15,139−2.5%
2020 13,725−9.3%

History

The area of present-day Yamanobe was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Yamanobe was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status in 1896.

Economy

The economy of Yamanobe is based on agriculture.

Education

Yamanobe has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Aterazawa Line

Highway

Local attractions

  • Site of Yamanobe Castle

Noted People from Yamanobe

References

  1. ^ Yamanobe Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Yamanobe climate data
  3. ^ Yamanobe population statistics

External links

Media related to Yamanobe, Yamagata at Wikimedia Commons