Waga District, Iwate


Waga is a rural district in Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.
As of 1 June 2019, the district had an estimated population of 5,315, and a population density of 9 persons per km², the total area is 590.74 km². Parts of the cities of Kitakami, Hanamaki and the town of Kanegasaki were formerly within the district. Since 2006, the district has been contiguous with just the town of Nishiwaga.

History

During the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate, the district was within Mutsu Province and was under the control of the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain. In 1869, following the Meiji restoration, Mutsu Province was divided, with the area of Waga District becoming part of Rikuchū Province, and from 1872, part of Iwate Prefecture.
In 1878, with the establishment of the municipalities, Waga District was administratively divided into 69 villages. On January 4, 1879, the District was divided into Higashiwaga and Nishiwaga.
However, on April 1, 1897, the two districts were merged and reorganized into one town and 16 villages, with the village of Aisari transferred to Isawa District.

former Higashiwaga District