Numata(沼田市,Numata-shi?) is a city located in Gunma prefecture, Japan. It is located in northern Gunma, bordered by Mt. Akagi and Mt. Hotaka. The kanji for Numata approximately mean "boggy field."
The city was founded on 1 April1954 and merged with two of the surrounding villages Shirasawa and Tone on February 13, 2005.1 As of this merger, the city has an estimated population of 54,949 and a population density of 124 persons per km². The total area is 443.37 km², making it the largest city in terms of area in Gunma. (The neighboring town of Minakami is the largest municipality in terms of area in Gunma.)
On April 1 1889, the municipal governments of the town of Numata and the villages of Tonami, Ikeda, Usune, Kawada, Shirasawa, and Azuma were created in the Tone District. The village of Akagine was also created in the Kita-Seta District.
On April 1 1896, the Kita-Seta district and Tone District merged to form a new Tone District.
On April 1 1954, the town of Numata and the villages of Tonami, Ikeda, Usune, and Kawada merged to form the city of Numata.
On September 30 1956, the villages of Azuma and Akagine merged to form the village of Tone.
On February 13 2005, the villages of Shirasawa and Tone were incorporated into the city of Numata.
In Japan
