Country Japan Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture Area 197.7 km² | Region Tōhoku Phone number 0244-37-2117 Population 35,680 (Dec 2014) | |
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Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) Address 13 Nakamura aza Ōtesaki, Sōma-shi, Fukushima-ken 976-8601 Weather 3°C, Wind SW at 3 km/h, 93% Humidity Points of interest Sōmanakamura Shrine, Baryo Park, Shinmachi Ryokuchi Park | ||
Sōma (相馬市, Sōma-shi) is a city located in Fukushima Prefecture, in northern Honshū, Japan. As of December 2014, the city had an estimated population of 35,480 and a population density of 179 persons per km2. The total area was 197.67 km2.
Contents
- Map of Soma Fukushima Prefecture Japan
- Geography
- Neighboring municipalities
- History
- 2011 earthquake and tsunami
- Economy
- Education
- Hospital
- Railway
- Highway
- Seaports
- Local attractions
- Noted people from Sma
- References
Map of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Geography
Sōma is located in northeastern Fukushima Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Abukuma Plateau to the west. Sōma is closer to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture than it is to the prefectural capital of Fukushima.
Neighboring municipalities
History
The area of present-day Sōma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jomon period. During the Edo period, much of the area was part of the holdings of Sōma Domain, home of the Sōma clan from the late Sengoku period until the Boshin War. . After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of waki Province. With the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1896, the area was organized into a number of towns and villages within the districts of Namekata and Uda, which had alternated between belonging to the old Iwaki Province, Mutsu Province, the second Iwaki Province, and modern Fukushima Prefecture. In 1896, Namekata and Uda were merged to create Sōma District. The town of Nakamura was established on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on March 31, 1954, being the city of Sōma.
2011 earthquake and tsunami
The eastern, coastal portion of Sōma was inundated by devastating tsunami flood waters following the magnitude 9.0 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami off its coastline on March 11, 2011. The tsunami reached up to approximately 4 km inland in Sōma, flooded areas included Sōma Port and the Matsukawa-ura Bay area, up to the elevated Route 6 Sōma Bypass. The tsunami was measured to have been 9.3 meters or higher in Sōma.
Sōma is about 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the site of the nuclear accident that followed the tsunami.
Economy
Sōma has a mixed economy, based on agriculture, commercial fishing and light manufacturing. The area is noted for its strawberry cultivation.
Education
Sōma has two high schools, five middle schools and 10 elementary schools.
Hospital
Soma General Hospital, a public hospital with 240 beds, is located in Sōma.