Niigata (ceety)

Niigata (新潟市, Niigata-shi) is the caipital an the maist populous ceety o Niigata Prefectur, Japan. It lies on the northwast coast o Honshū, the lairgest island o Japan, an faces the Sea o Japan an Sado Island.

Niigata 新潟市
Designatit ceety
Ceety o Niigata
Frae tap left: NEXT21, Bandai Brig, Toki Messe, Niigata Stadium, Central Niigata an Shinano River in the nicht, Rainbow Touer
Banner
Location of Niigata in Niigata Prefectur
Coordinates: 37°54′58″N 139°2′11″E
Kintra	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefectur	Niigata Prefectur
Govrenment
• Mayor	Akira Shinoda
Area
• Total	726.09 km2 (280.34 sq mi)
Population  (Januar 31, 2012)
• Total	804,193
• Density	1107.57/km2 (2,868.6/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Willae
• Flouer	Tulip
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Staundart Time)
City Hall Address	1-602-1 Gakkōchō-dōri, Chūō-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken 951-8550
Website	www.city.niigata.lg.jp

Wi a lang history as a port toun, Niigata became a free port follaein the Meiji Restoration. Niigata's ceety govrenment wis established in 1889. Mergers wi nearbi municipalities in 2005 alloued the ceety's population tae jump tae 810,000. The annexation o the surroonding aurie haes an aa gien the ceety the greatest rice paddy field acreage in Japan. On 1 Aprile 2007, it became the first govrenment-designatit ceety on the Japan Sea coast o Honshū.

History

Mergers

mergers o Niigata

• On 1 Aprile 1889 - the veelage o Sekiya wis amalgamatit intae the toun o Niigata.
• On 1 Aprile 1914 - The toun o Nuttari frae Nakakanbara Destrict wis amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 1 Juin 1943 - The veelage o Ohgata frae Nakakanbara Destrict wis amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 8 December 1943 - The veelages o Ishiyama an Toyano frae Nakakanbara Destrict wur amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 5 Aprile 1954 - The veelage o Matsugasakihama frae Kitakanbara Destrict wis amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 1 November 1954 - The veelages o Nigorikawa, Minamihama frae Kitakanbara Destrict an the veelage o Sakaiwa frae Nishikanbara Destrict wur amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 3 Mey 1957 - The veelages o Ryokawa, Sonoki an Oheyama frae Nakakanbara Destrict wur amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 11 Januar 1960 - The toun o Uchino frae Nishikanbara Destrict wis amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 1 Juin 1961 - The veelages o Nakanokoya an Akatsuka frae Nishikanbara Destrict wur amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 1 Januar 2001 - The toun o Kurosaki frae Nishikanbara Destrict wis amalgamatit intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 12 Mairch 2005 - The ceety o Niitsu, Shirone an Toyosaka, the touns o Kameda, Kosudo an Yokogoshi frae Nakakanbara Destrict an the toun o Nishikawa an the veelages o Ajikata, Iwamuro, Katahigashi, Nakanokuchi an Tsukigata frae Nishikanbara Destrict wur aw merged intae the ceety o Niigata.
• On 10 October 2005 - The toun o Maki frae Nishikanbara Destrict merged intae the ceety o Niigata.

Sister ceeties

Niigata maintains sister ceety ties wi sax ceeties:

• Galveston, Unitit States (1965)
• Khabarovsk, Roushie (1965)
• Harbin, Cheenae (1979)
• Vladivostok, Roushie (1991)
• Birobidzhan, Roushie (Ance a sister ceety o Toyosaka, Niigata assumed the sister ceety honors in 2005)
• Nantes, Fraunce (2009, shiftit frae friendship ceety syne 1999)

In addition, special exchynge agreements hae been set up wi:

• Kingston upon Hull, Unitit Kinrick
• Ulsan, Republic o Korea (2007)

Sports

• J. League (Fitbaa/Soccer)
  • Albirex Niigata play at Big Swan Stadium
• Bj league (Basketbaa)
  • Niigata Albirex BB play at Toki Messe