Midori-ku, Saitama

Midori-ku, Saitama

緑区
Midori-ku, Saitama 緑区
Ward
	Midori Ward
	Midori Ward Office, Saitama City
	Location of Midori-ku in Saitama
	Midori-ku, Saitama
	Coordinates: 35°52′15.9″N 139°41′2.7″E / 35.871083°N 139.684083°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
City	Saitama
Area
• Total	26.44 km2 (10.21 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	117,152
• Density	4,430/km2 (11,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Sakura
-Flower	Cornus florida
-Bird	Egret
Phone number	048-835-3156
Address	975-1 Oji-Nakao Midori-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken 374-1111 338-0002
Website	www.city.saitama.jp/minami/index.html

Midori-ku (緑区, Midori-ku) is one of ten wards of the city of Saitama, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is located in the southeastern part of the city. As of 1 February 2016^[update], the ward had an estimated population of 117,152 and a population density of 4,430 persons per km². Its total area was 26.44 square kilometres (10.21 sq mi).

Geography

A wide area of green farmland, Minuma Rice Paddies, forms the central part of the ward. The major river system includes the Shiba River, the Ayanose River, and the Minuma Irrigational Canal. In the southern section of the ward runs the Tōhoku Expressway.

Neighboring Municipalities

Saitama Prefecture

History

The first people who stayed permanently in this area are considered to have arrived approximately twenty five thousand years ago. Paleolithic archaeological sites found in the area include Matsuki (松木), Wadakita (和田北), Kitajukunishi (北宿西), and Mamiya Miyaushiro (間宮宮後). In the early modern period, the area witnessed large-scale civil engineering projects: the construction of the Minuma Reservoir (見沼溜井, Minuma Tamei), the demolition of the reservoir, and the creation of the Minuma Irrigational Canal (見沼代用水, Minumadai Yōsui). Daimon-shuku (大門宿) became one of the post stations of the Nikkō Onari Kaidō.^[1]

The villages of Tanida (谷田), Omagi (尾間木), Mimuro (三室), and Daimon (大門) were created within Kitaadachi District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1932 Tanida was annexed by Urawa Town, which was elevated to city status on February 11, 1934. Omagi, Mimuro and Daimon merged to form the village of Misono on April 1, 1956. Misono was subsequently divided between Urawa and Kawaguchi on May 1, 1962. On May 1, 2001 the cities of Urawa, Yono and Ōmiya merged to form the new city of Saitama. When Saitama was proclaimed a designated city in 2003, the much area of corresponding to former villages of Tanida, Omagi, Mimuro and Daimon became Midori Ward.

Education

Urawa University
Keio University School of Pharmacy
Akenohoshi Women's Junior College
Midori-ku has 10 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three high schools, as well as two special education schools.