Kurate, Fukuoka

Kurate

An thủ đinh
Kurate An thủ đinh
Town
	Kurate town hall
	Flag Chapter
	Location of Kurate in Fukuoka Prefecture
	Kurate Location in Japan
	Coordinates:33°47′31.5″N130°40′26.6″E/ 33.792083°N 130.674056°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Fukuoka
District	Kurate
Area
• Total	35.60 km2(13.75 sq mi)
Population (January 31, 2024)
• Total	14,988
• Density	420/km2(1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00(JST)
City hall address	3705 Nakayama, Kurate-cho, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka-ken 807-1392
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Aster,Lily,Chrysanthemum,Narcissus
Tree	Cinnamomum camphora,Osmanthus fragrans

Kurate(An thủ đinh,Kurate-machi)is atownlocated inKurate District,Fukuoka Prefecture,Japan.^[1]As of 31 January 2024^[update],the town had an estimatedpopulationof 14,988 in 7442 households, and apopulation densityof 420 persons per km².^[2]The total area of the town is 35.60 km²(13.75 sq mi).

Geography

Kurate is located is located in the Munakata region in the northwest of Fukuoka Prefecture, approximately 20 kilometers southwest ofKitakyushu(central Kokura) and 60 kilometers northeast of Fukuoka City, at the northern tip of the Chikuho region. The Onga River flows through the eastern end of the town. The area from the center to the northern and eastern parts of the town is relatively flat, but the area from the northwest to the western and southern parts is mountainous.

Neighboring municipalities

Fukuoka Prefecture

Climate

Kurate has ahumid subtropical climate(KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kurate is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1560 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.0 °C.^[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kurate is as shown below

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1940	30,159	—
1950	29,448	−2.4%
1960	28,714	−2.5%
1970	18,266	−36.4%
1980	19,079	+4.5%
1990	20,332	+6.6%
2000	19,266	−5.2%
2010	17,095	−11.3%
2020	15,080	−11.8%

History

The area of Kurate was part of ancientChikuzen Province.Jomon period shell middenshave been found within the town borders. During theKofun periodthe area was the seat of thekuni no miyatsukoofTsukushi,and the name "Kurate" is said to derive from a title given to the local prince byEmperor Kimmeifor his exploits in a war to assist the Kingdom ofBaekje.TheFurutsuki Cave Tombswere built between the end of the 6th and early 7th century, and are now aNational Historic Site.During theEdo Period,the area was under the control ofFukuoka Domain.After theMeiji restoration,the villages of Tsurugi, Nishikawa, and Kozuki was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Tsurugi was raised to town status on August 1, 1952. On January 1, 1955 Tsurugi merged with, Nishikawa and Kozuki villages to form the town of Kurate.

Government

Kurate has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameraltown council of 13 members. Kurate, collectively with the city of Miyawaka and town of Kotake, contributes one member to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of theFukuoka 8th districtof thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.

Economy

During theMeiji period,Kurate, along with the municipalities of the Chikuho area, developed with the Kitakyushu industrial zone throughcoal mining,and is still considered part of to the Greater Kitakyushu Metropolitan Area. However, as the demand for coal decreased due to the energy revolution, the coal mines that had sponsored prosperity have closed, leading to depopulation. The last mine closed in 1971. Anindustrial parkhas been constructed to replace the former coal industry in an effort to attract manufacturing industries.The attraction has had a positive effects, with the percentage of residents engaged in secondary industries far exceeding the average for Fukuoka Prefecture as a whole, and the number of residents commuting to work within the town exceeding 40%.

Education

Kurate has six public elementary schools and one public junior high school by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Fukuoka Board of Education..