Date

The former name of a town (Datemachi) in Date County, in the northern part of the Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture. The area now occupies the western part of Date City. Located in the center of the Fukushima Basin, the area has no large mountain ranges, and is dominated by floodplains and terraces of the Abukuma River, which flows north through the center. In 1940 (Showa 15), Nagaoka Village was incorporated as a town and became Datemachi, but in 1956 it was incorporated into Fushiguro Village, and in 1957 it was incorporated as a town and became Datemachi again. In 2006 (Heisei 18), it merged with the four towns of Yanagawa, Hobara, Ryozen, and Tsukidate to become a city, and became Date City. Once known for sericulture and silkworm egg production, the area now excels in producing peaches, apples, and cherries. During the time when silk-reeling was popular, a silk market was held at the festival of Tenno-sama (Yakumo and Atsuta shrines). The Hakozaki lion dance is a prefectural intangible folk cultural asset. It was a key transportation hub, and in the mid-Meiji period, there were bases for light railways and streetcars. The JR Tohoku Main Line and national highways 4 and 399 pass through the town, and it is also worth seeing from an industrial perspective. There are many commuters to Fukushima City, which borders the town to the west, and the population is growing.

[Shiro Watanabe]

"History of Date Town, 8 volumes (1985-2001, Date Town)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福島県中通(なかどお)り地方北部、伊達郡にあった旧町名（伊達町(まち)）。現在は伊達市の西部を占める地域。福島盆地の中央にあり、地域には大きな山地がなく、中央を北流する阿武隈川(あぶくま)の氾濫(はんらん)原と段丘面が広がる。1940年（昭和15）長岡村が町制施行して伊達町となったが、1956年伏黒(ふしぐろ)村に編入、1957年町制施行してふたたび伊達町となる。2006年（平成18）梁川(やながわ)、保原(ほばら)、霊山(りょうぜん)、月舘(つきだて)の4町と合併して市制施行、伊達市となった。かつては養蚕と蚕種製造で知られたが、現在はモモやリンゴ、サクランボの果物の生産が卓越する。座繰製糸(ざぐりせいし)が盛んな時代には、天王様(てんのうさま)（八雲(やくも)、熱田(あつた)両神社）の祭礼には糸市(いち)が立った。箱崎の獅子舞(ししまい)は県の無形民俗文化財。交通の一核心であり、明治中期には軽便鉄道や路面電車の基地があった。JR東北本線と国道4号、399号が通り、工業的にもみるべきものがある。西に接する福島市への通勤者も多く、人口も増えている。

［渡辺四郎］

『『伊達町史』全8冊（1985～2001・伊達町）』

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