is a

rural district A rural district was a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. I ...

located in

Yamagata Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It has a population of 1,005,926 (1 February 2025) and an area of 9,325 Square kilometre, km2 (3,600 Square mile, sq mi). Its neighbours are Akita Prefectu ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. As of October 2013, the district has an estimated population of 41,272 and an area of 796.26 km². The city of Sagae and a portion of the city of

Shirataka 270px, Mogami River in Shirataka is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 13,482 in 4730 households, and a population density of 85 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . Geography Sh ...

(now part of Nishiokitama District) were formerly part of Nishimurayama District.

Towns and villages

Asahi Asahi (Japanese 朝日, 旭, or あさひ 'morning sun') may refer to: Places in Japan Cities * Asahi, Chiba (旭市; ''Asahi-shi'') Wards * Asahi-ku, Osaka (旭区; ''Asahi-ku'') * Asahi-ku, Yokohama (旭; ''Asahi-ku'') Towns * Asahi, Aichi ...

* Kahoku * Nishikawa * Ōe

History

Murayama County was an ancient place name in part of

Dewa Province was a province of Japan comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. Dewa bordered on Mutsu and Echigō Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was . History Early per ...

, occupying the area of modern Mogami, Kitamurayama,

Higashimurayama is a city located in the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 148,275, and a population density of 8700 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Higashimurayama is located o ...

and Nishimurayama districts. Under the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

, the area of Nishimurayama district was a complicated mosaic. The Tokugawa shogunate ruled 42 villages directly as ''

tenryo The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

''; 60 villages were part of Dewa-Matsuyama Domain, 6 villages were part of

Tatebayashi Domain was a Han (Japan), feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Kōzuke Province (modern-day Gunma Prefecture), Japan. It was centered on Tatebayashi Castle in what is now the city of Tatebayashi, Gunma. History Fol ...

, 5 villages were under

Tanakura Domain was a ''fudai'' Han (Japan), feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. It is located in southern Mutsu Province, Honshū. The domain was centered at Tanagura Castle, located in what is now part of the town of Tanagura, Fuk ...

, 5 villages were under

Matsumae Domain file:Matsumae Nagahiro.jpg, 270px, Matsumae Nagahiro, final daimyo of Matsumae Domain The Matsumae Domain (松前藩), a prominent domain during the Edo period, was situated in Matsumae, Matsumae Island (Ishijima), which is currently known as M ...

, 4 villages were part of

Shinjō Domain was a Japanese Han (Japan), domain of the Edo period, located in Dewa Province Japan and ruled by the Tozawa clan. It was centered on Shinjō Castle in what is now the city of Shinjō, Yamagata and occupied all of what is now Mogami District, Yam ...

, 3 villages were ecclesiastical territory and 4 villages were split between two or more domains. The area became part of Yamagata Prefecture in 1876. At that time, Nishimurayama District consisted of 125 villages. With the establishment of the municipality system on April 1, 1889, the district was consolidated into 21 villages. * On January 7, 1893 Sagae was raised to town status * On April 2, 1896 Yachi was raised to town status * On August 17, 1896 Aterazawa was raised to town status * On February 8, 1900 Shiraiwa was raised to town status * On April 1, 1928 Miyajuku was raised to town status * On August 1, 1954 the city of Sagae was founded by the merger of Sagae Town with four neighboring villages. * On October 1, 1954 the towns of Nishikawa and Kahoku were founded * On November 1, 1954 Miyakuju merged with two neighboring villages to form the town of

. On the same day, the town of Shiraiwa was annexed by Sagae. * On August 20, 1959 Aterazawa merged with a neighboring village to form the town of Ōe. {{Authority control Districts in Yamagata Prefecture