Shiroishi, Saga

Infobox City Japan
Name=Shiroishi
JapaneseName=白石町
Map

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Region=Kyūshū
Prefecture=Saga
District=Kishima District
Area_km2=99.46
PopDate=September 1, 2007
Population=26,408
Density_km2=267
Coords= coord|33|9|N|130|7|E|region:JP_type:city
Tree = Sweet Osmanthus
Flower =Iris
Bird =
Symbol

SymbolDescription=
Mayor = Hiroaki Katafuchi
CityHallPostalCode = 849-1292
CityHallAddress= 253-1 Ōaza Sakata, Shiroishi-chō, Kishima-gun, Saga-ken
CityHallPhone=0954-65-3111　
CityHallLink = [http://www.town.shiroishi.lg.jp/ Town of Shiroishi] nihongo|Shiroishi|白石町|Shiroishi-chō is a town located in Kishima District, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Geography

85% of the total area of Shiroishi is farmland. The town borders the Ariake Sea on the southeast. Much of the land near the Ariake Sea is reclaimed.

Climate

*Annual Mean Air Temperature: 16˚C (60.8˚F)
*Annual Mean Precipitation: about 1450 mm (57 in)

Adjoining Cities and Municipalities

*Kashima
*Takeo
*Ureshino
*Ōmachi
*Kōhoku
*Ogi

History

*April 1, 1889 - The modern municipal system is established. At this time Shiroishi consists of nine separate villages: Hashishita, Fukudomi, Fukuji, Kinkō, Kita-Ariake, Minami-Ariake, Rokkaku, Ryūō, and Suko.
*April 1, 1936 - Fukuji gains town status and is renamed Shiroishi.
*April 1, 1955 - Kinkō and Ryūō merge to form Ariake.
*July 20, 1955 - Rokkaku and Suko are incorporated into Shiroishi.
*September 30, 1955 - Minami-Ariake is incorporated into Ariake.
*July 1, 1956 - Kita-Ariake is incorporated into Shiroishi.
*October 1, 1962 - Ariake gains town status.
*April 1, 1967 - Fukudomi gains town status.
*January 1, 2005 - The towns of Shiroishi, Fukudomi, and Ariake are merged under the name Shiroishi.

Demographics

27.01% of the population (7,437) are 65 or older. In 2005 there were 183 births and 322 deaths, 624 immigrants and 805 emigrants, indicating a negative population growth.

Economy

Agriculture

Shiroishi is a very agricultural community. Some of their agricultural products include "tempe", "renkon", strawberries, onions, rice, and beef.

Education

High Schools

(prefectural)
*Shiroishi High School
*Saga Agricultural School

Junior High Schools

*Shiroishi Junior High School
*Fukudomi Junior High School
*Ariake Junior High School

Elementary Schools

*Suko Elementary School
*Rokkaku Elementary School
*Shiroishi Elementary School
*Hokumei Elementary School
*Fukudomi Elementary School
*Ariake East Elementary School
*Ariake West Elementary School
*Ariake South Elementary School

Transportation

Air

The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

Rail

*JR Kyūshū
**Nagasaki Main Line
***Hizen-Shiroishi and Hizen-Ryūō

Roads

*National Highways: Route 207 and Route 444.
*Prefectural Roads: Saga Prefecture Route 36

Festivals

*nihongo|Yasaka Shrine Summer Festival|八坂神社 夏祭り|yasakajinja natsumatsuri, July 13th - Floats are pulled down the main shopping district in the tradition of the Kyoto Gion Festival.
*nihongo|Hassaku|八朔, October 1st - A fall festival celebrating the sea at Kaidou Shrine.
*nihongo|Okunchi|おくんち, October 19th - This fall festival is held at the Tsumayama, Rokkaku, Inasa, and Fukudomi shrines. It features Japanese horseback archery, called "yabusame".
*nihongo|Ohitaki Festival|お火たき祭り|ohitakimatsuri, December 26th - A bonfire festival where people pray for the coming year.

Notable Places

*nihongo|Utagaki Park|歌垣公園|utagaki kouen, a park with many flowers.
*nihongo|Inasa Shrine|稲佐神社|inasa jinja, an old shrine in the mountains west of Shiroishi. Of particular note is the stone paved road leading to the shrine.
*nihongo|Fukudomi My Land Park|ふくどみマイランド公園|fukudomi mairando kouen a park and playground.