Kibichūō
# Kibichūō

Kibichūō (吉備中央町, Kibichūō-chō) is a town located in Kaga District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2023, the town had an estimated population of 10,435 in 5142 households and a population density of 39 persons per km². The total area of the town is 268.73 square kilometres (103.76 sq mi).

## Geography

Kibichūō is located in central Okayama Prefecture. Because it is a highland area with relatively gentle topography, the population distribution is dispersed throughout the town.

### Neighbouring municipalities

Okayama Prefecture

* Kita-ku, Okayama
* Sōja
* Takahashi
* Maniwa
* Misaki

### Climate

Kibichūō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Kibichūō is 13.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1392 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 25.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around1.6 °C.

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kibichūō has been declining steadily for the past 70 years.

## History

The Kibichūō area is part of ancient Bitchū Province and as the town name implies, is roughly in the geographic center of the ancient Kingdom of Kibi. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Jōbō District and Mitsu District, Okayama with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Kibichūō was founded on October 1, 2004 by the merger of the town of Kamogawa, from Mitsu District, and the town of Kayō, from Jōbō District.

## Government

Kibichūō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of twelve members. Kibichūō, collectively with Kita-ku, Okayama, contributes eight member to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Okayama 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

The main economic activity of Kibichūō is agriculture and food processing. Pharmaceuticals are also important. Due to its proximity to Okayama, the town is increasingly becoming a commuter town.

## Education

Kibichūō has nine public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government and one private elementary school and one private junior high school. The town has one public high school operated by the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education.

## Transportation

### Railway

Kibichūō does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest train stations are the JR West Hakubi Line Bitchu-Takahashi Station (from the west side of town), and the Tsuyama Line Kanagawa Station and Fukuwatari Station (from the east side of town).

### Highways

* Okayama Expressway
* National Route 429
* National Route 484

## Sister city relations

* - Huai'an District, Jiangsu, China, friendship city since 1993.
