Shimogō (下郷町, Shimogō-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 5,517 in 2216 households[1] and a population density of 17 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 317.04 square kilometres (122.41 sq mi).
Shimogō has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shimogō is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1365 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.2 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Shimogō peaked in the 1950s and has declined steadily over the past 60 years. It now[vague] raises less tax than it did a century ago.[citation needed]
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
9,854
—
1930
11,681
+18.5%
1940
12,304
+5.3%
1950
14,644
+19.0%
1960
14,234
−2.8%
1970
11,077
−22.2%
1980
10,025
−9.5%
1990
8,537
−14.8%
2000
7,579
−11.2%
2010
6,464
−14.7%
2020
5,264
−18.6%
History
The area of present-day Shimogō was part of ancient Mutsu Province and formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Minamiaizu District in Fukushima Prefecture. The village of Naraha was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1,1 889. It was raised to town status on November 20, 1946. Shimogō was established on April 1, 1955 by the merger of the town of Narahara with the neighboring villages of Ashida and Egawa.
Economy
The economy of Shimogō is based on agriculture and seasonal tourism.
Education
Shimogō has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a public high school.
