Utashinai (歌志内市; -shi) is a city located in Soya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is Japan's smallest city by population. It was formerly a prosperous coal mining city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948.
The name is derived from the Ainu Uta Ushi Nai meaning "Swamp of Much Sand" (?)
As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 5,587 and a density of 99.79 persons per km². The total area is 55.99 km².
History
- 1890 Sorachi Coal Mine opened, founding of Utashinai.
- 1897 Utashinai Village split off of Nae Village (now the city of Sunagawa)
- 1900 Ashibetsu Village splits off
- 1906 Utashinai becomes a Second Class Municipality
- 1919 Utashinai becomes a First Class Municipality
- 1922 Akabira Village split off
- 1940 Utashinai becomes a town.
- 1949 Part of the town splits off into Kamisunagawa Town.
- July 1, 1958 Utashinai becomes a city.
- 1971 Sumitomo closes Utashinai Mine
- 1988 Kamiutashinai mine closed
- 1995 Sorachi Mine closed
- 2003 Mid-Sorachi Merger Conference established
- 2004 Merger Conference disbanded.
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