Tako, Chiba


Tako is a town located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of April 2012, the town had an estimated population of 15,590, and a population density of 215 persons per km². The total area is 72.68 km².

Geography

Tako is located in the northeastern portion of Chiba prefecture, and the majority of the land is flat. Located on the Shimōsa Plateau and the Kujūkuri Plain, the Kuriyama River flows through the centre of the town.

Neighboring municipalities

Tako has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and archaeologists have found dugout canoes and graves from the Jōmon period, and rice paddies from the Yayoi period. The area also has numerous tumuli from the Kofun period, from which haniwa pottery has been recovered. During the Heian period, it was divided into shōen controlled by the Fujiwara clan and came under the control of the Chiba clan in the Kamakura period. During the Edo period, it was tenryō territory within Shimōsa province ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate via hatamoto administrators.
After the Meiji Restoration, Tako village was established on April 1, 1889 within Katori District of Chiba Prefecture. Tako was elevated to town status on June 29, 1890. On April 1, 1951, Tako annexed neighboring Tōjō Village. It expanded further on March 31, 1954 by annexing neighboring Naka, Kuga and Tokiwa villages.

Economy

Tako is a regional commercial center, and agricultural center. In addition to rice, an important economic factor is animal husbandry, most significantly intensive pig farming.

Transportation

Highway