Hitachiōmiya (常陸大宮市, Hitachiōmiya-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020[update], the city had an estimated population of 39,281 in 16.047 households and a population density of 220 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 37.6%.[1] The total area of the city is 348.45 square kilometres (134.54 sq mi).
Geography
Hitachiōmiya is located in the northwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, at the eastern foot of the Yamizo Mountains, with 59% of the city area classified as forest and mountains.[1] The Kuji River runs from north to south in the eastern part of the city, along which Japan National Route 118 and the JR Suigun Line pass. The city center is located in the southeast. The Naka River flows in the southwestern part of the city.
Hitachiōmiya has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hitachiōmiya is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,363.7 mm (53.69 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.7 °C (76.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C (34.9 °F).[2]
Climate data for Hitachiōmiya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Hitachiōmiya has been declining over the past 70 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1950
69,209
—
1960
61,238
−11.5%
1970
52,500
−14.3%
1980
50,332
−4.1%
1990
49,670
−1.3%
2000
48,964
−1.4%
2010
45,178
−7.7%
2020
39,267
−13.1%
History
The town of Ōmiya was created within Naka District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Hitachiōmiya was established on October 16, 2004, from the merger of Ōmiya with the neighboring villages of Miwa and Ogawa (all from Naka District), the town of Yamagata, and the village of Gozenyama (both from Higashiibaraki District).
The economy of Hitachiōmiya is primarily agricultural.
Education
Hitachiōmiya has 11 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education.