was a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

located in

Fujitsu District is a Districts of Japan, district located in Saga Prefecture, Japan. As of February 1, 2009, the district has an estimated population of 10,075 and a population density, density of 136 persons per km2. The total area is 74.21 km2. Municipa ...

Saga Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Saga Prefecture has a population of roughly 780,000 and has a geographic area of . Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasaki Prefect ...

, Japan. On January 1, 2006, Shiota, along with the former town of Ureshino (also from

), was merged to create the city of Ureshino.

Geography

Shiota is located in the southwestern part of

Saga Sagas are prose stories and histories, composed in Iceland and to a lesser extent elsewhere in Scandinavia. The most famous saga-genre is the (sagas concerning Icelanders), which feature Viking voyages, migration to Iceland, and feuds between ...

, inland of the

Ariake Sea The is a body of salt water surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 meters (165 ft) deep, and ext ...

. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. * Mountains: Mt. Tōsen, Mt. Kishima * Rivers: Shiota River

Adjoining Municipalities

* Kashima * Shiroishi * Takeo * Ureshino

History

* April 1, 1889 - The modern municipal system is formed and three villages exist in the current area occupied by Shiota: Shiota Village, Kuma Village, and Gochōda Village. * October 5, 1918 - Shiota Village becomes Shiota Town. * September 1, 1956 - Kuma Village and Gochōda Village are incorporated into Shiota Town. * January 1, 2006 - Shiota Town and Ureshino Town merge to form Ureshino City.

Demographics

23.6% of the population of Shiota are 65 or older.

Education

High schools

* Saga Prefectural Industrial High School

Junior high schools

* Shiota Junior High School

Elementary schools

* Gochōda Elementary School * Shiota Elementary School * Kuma Elementary School * Ureshino Associated Ōkusano Elementary School

Notable Places and Festivals

* O-Yama-san Matsuri-hi (お山さん祭り日), April 5 * Shiota Kunchi (塩田くんち), November 2–3 * Hachimangū Reisai, (annual festival for the god of war shrine) November 3 * Tanjō Shrine {{Authority control Dissolved municipalities of Saga Prefecture