Ryūgasaki (龍ケ崎市, Ryūgasaki-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2024[update], the city had an estimated population of 75,212 in 33,421 households and a population density of 958 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 31.1% in July 2020.[1] The total area of the city is 78.59 square kilometres (30.34 sq mi).
Geography
Ryūgasaki is located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying flatlands south of Lake Kasumigaura. The Kokai River runs through the western part of the city, and the basin is dotted with tributaries and lakes. Lake Ushiku, despite its name, is entirely within the city of Ryūgasaki.
Ryūgasaki has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ryūgasaki is 14.5 °C (58.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,352.8 mm (53.26 in) with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C (78.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.3 °C (37.9 °F).[2]
Climate data for Ryūgasaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ryūgasaki has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1950
34,528
—
1960
33,581
−2.7%
1970
37,267
+11.0%
1980
43,132
+15.7%
1990
57,238
+32.7%
2000
76,923
+34.4%
2010
80,334
+4.4%
2020
76,420
−4.9%
History
The name "Ryūgasaki" can be traced back to 1182 when the samurai clan ruling the territory adopted "Ryūgasaki" as their family name. The northern half of the city was an exclave of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, the region joined Miyazaku Prefecture [ja] in 1869 before merging with Ibaraki Prefecture in 1875. The southern portion of the city was part of Kitasōma District in Shimōsa Province, as the boundary between Shimōsa and Hitachi Province had been established in the Nara period as the Tone River. However, by the Meiji period, the course of the river had shifted, leaving the area of present-day southern Ryūgasaki on the northern bank of the river. This area was transferred to Ibaraki Prefecture in 1875
The town of Ryūgasaki was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.
The city was formed on March 20, 1954, when the aforementioned town merged with: Nareshiba [ja], Ōmiya [ja], Yabara [ja], Nagato [ja], Kawarashiro [ja] and Kitamonma [ja]. In February 1955, the city grew to its present size when a proportion of Takasu [ja] merged with the city.[5]
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2022)
Government
Ryūgasaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Ryūgasaki, together with neighboring Tone, contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The 20th and current mayor is (萩原 勇) Isamu Hagiwara, who assumed the position on January 18, 2022.[7] Issei Nakayama (中山 一生) was the seventeenth to nineteenth mayor, beginning in January 2010.[8]
Economy
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2015)
Ryūgasaki has 11 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government. There are one public middle school and three public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education as well as one private high school.
^平成25年 統計りゅうがさき [2013 Statistics, Ryūgasaki] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
^市民憲章、市章、市の花・木・鳥 [Townspeople's charter, city symbol, the city's flower, tree and bird] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
^市長プロフィール [Mayor Profile]. Ryūgasaki City (in Japanese). January 18, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
^平成25年 統計りゅうがさき [2013 Statistics, Ryugasaki] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. p. 59. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
^"The Kawada Group." Kawada Industries. Retrieved on February 21, 2010.
^"路線外運行." New Central Airlines. Retrieved on February 21, 2010. "お問い合わせは 〒３０１－０８０６ 茨城県竜ヶ崎市半田町３１７７ 竜ヶ崎飛行場内"
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