Usu District, Hokkaido

• Sōbetsu

  Timeline

• July 1, 1900 - Due to the Hokkaido 1st class municipal status enforcement, the village of Date was formed within Usu District.
• April 1, 1915 - Due to the Hokkaido 2nd class municipal status enforcement, the village of Sōbetsu was formed within Usu District.
• 1916 - Population: 21,011. Malaria Patients: 20.
• April 1, 1919 - Due to the Sōbetsu, Hokkaido 2nd class municipal status enforcement, the village of Tokushunbetsu was formed within Usu District.
• June 1920 - Parts of the village of Tokushunbetsu merged into the village of Kimobetsu, Abuta District.
• August 1, 1925 - The village of Date became the 1st class town of Date.
• April 1, 1939 - The village of Sōbetsu became the 1st class village.
• June 1, 1943 - 1st and 2nd class municipal status abolished. The village of Tokushunbetu became an officially designated village, according to the Ministry of Interior.
• October 5, 1946 - Designated municipal status enforcement abolished.
• September 1, 1950 - The village of Tokushunbetsu was renamed Ōtaki.
• January 1, 1962 - The village of Sōbetsu gained town status to become the town of Sōbetsu.
• April 1, 1972 - The town of Date gained city status to become the city of Date.
• March 1, 2006 - The village of Ōtaki merged into the city of Date.