Katsuragi, Wakayama

Katsuragi (かつらぎ町, Katsuragi-chō) is a town located in Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2021, the town had an estimated population of 16,170 in 7137 households and a population density of 110 persons per km². The total area of the town is 151.69 square kilometres (58.57 sq mi). The town was named after the nearby Katsuragi Mountains.

Geography

Katsuragi is long and narrow from north to south, and is located in the northeastern part of Wakayama prefecture. The Kinokawa River flows from east to west in the former Katsuragi Town area, and the Kishi River flows from east to west in the Shinshiro area at the southernmost tip of the former Katsuragi Town. In addition, the Arita River runs through the former Hanazono village area. The terrain is sandwiched between the Kii Mountains and the Izumi Mountains, forming a basin.

Neighboring municipalities

Wakayama Prefecture

Hashimoto
Kinokawa
Kudoyama
Kōya
Kimino
Aridagawa

Osaka Prefecture

Kawachinagano
Izumi
Kishiwada

Nara Prefecture

Nosegawa

Climate

Katsuragi has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Katsuragi is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1771 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C. The area is subject to typhoons in summer.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Katsuragi has decreased steadily over the past 70 years.

History

The town of Katsuragi was founded by the merger of the town of Ito and Myōji and the village of Miyoshi (all from Ito District) on July 1, 1958. On October 1, 2005 the village of Hanazono, from Ito District, was merged into Katsuragi.

Government

Katsuragi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Katsuragi, collectively with the other municipalities of Ito District contributes one member to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Katsuragi is one of the largest agricultural areas in Wakayama, and agriculture, horticulture and food processing dominate the local economy.

Education

Katsuragi has five public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and two public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education.