Ashibetsu
Appearance
Ashibetsu (芦別市, Ashibetsu-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 17,984 and a density of 20.8 persons per km2. The total area is 865.02 km2.
History
The city was once a prosperous coal mining city, its population exceeding 70,000 at its peak, but its population has fallen since the closing of the coal mines.[1]
- 1893 Satō Denjirō (originally from Yamagata Prefecture) founds Ashibetsu
- 1897 Nae Village (now Sunagawa City) and part of Takikawa Village (now City) split off to form Utashinai Village
- 1900 Ashibetsu Village split off of Utashinai Village.
- 1906 Ashibetsu becomes a Second Class Municipality
- 1917 Kuhara Mining Industry Yuya Ashibetu Coal Mine opened
- 1923 First Class Municipality
- 1924 Mitsubishi Mining Industry Ashibetsu Coal Mine opened
- 1935 Meiji Mining Industry Meiji-Kamiashibetsu Coal Mine opened
- 1938 Ashibetsu-Takane Colliery Takane Mining Station opened
- 1941 Ashibetsu Village becomes Ashibetsu Town
- 1943 Mitsui-Ashibetsu Mining Industry Mitsui-Ashibetsu Coal Mine opened
- 1953 Ashibetsu Town becomes Ashibetsu City
- 1963 Meiji Mining Industry Meiji-Kamiashibetsu Coal Mine closed
- 1964 Mitsubishi Mining Industry Ashibetsu Coal Mine closed
- 1967 Ashibetsu-Takane Colliery Takane Mining Station closed
- 1969 Yuya Mining Industry Yuya Ashibetu Coal Mine closed
- 1992 Mitsui-Ashibetsu Mining Industry Mitsui-Ashibetsu Coal Mine closed
- 1991 Canadian World park opened
- 1997 Canadian World business failure (to transform munincipal park in 1999)
Geography
Ashibetsu is located in the northern part of Yūbari Mountains. Mount Ashibetsu is located on south of the city.
Name
There are two theories about the origin of "Ashibetu". In both theories the river means Ashibetsu River, which flows through in the city.[1]
- "as pet", the river which flows in a shrub
- "hasi pet", the standing river
Education
University
college
- Kitanippon Automobile Technical College
High School
Public
- Hokkaido Ashibetsu High School
Private
- Seisa Kokusai High School
Transportation
Sister city
References
External links
Media related to Ashibetsu, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons