prospered as the local center of politics, economy, and culture. It prospered as a post town on the Kōshū Kaidō highway in the Edo period, and the Kita Tama District public office was placed here after the start of the Meiji era. 645: With the Taika Reforms of the government of Musashi Province was established in Fuchū. 1333: The Battle of Bubaigawara was fought. 1602: The Fuchū post-town was established with the upgrading of the Kōshū-dochu road (Kōshū Highway). 1868: Nirayama Prefecture was established, and the southwest part of the city region becomes part of it. The remainder was under the jurisdiction of the Musashi prefectural governor. 1869: Shinagawa Prefecture was established, and except for the southwest part, the city becomes part of the prefecture. 1871: Establishment of the prefectural system. Parts of the city were transferred to Kanagawa Prefecture by the next year step by step. 1878: Tama District of Kanagawa Prefecture was divided into three districts: North Tama, South Tama, West Tama, and one district in Tokyo Prefecture: East Tama. The city region became part of North Tama District, whose district offices were established in the city. 1880: Four towns and one village of the central area of the city region merged into Fuchū-eki. 1889: Eight villages of the eastern area of city region merged into Tama Village, and three villages of the western area merged into Nishifu Village. Fuchū-eki reorganized as a town, without changing its name. 1893: Three Tama districts were admitted to Tokyo Prefecture. Fuchū-eki changed its name to Fuchū Town. 1910: The Tokyo Gravel Railroad (later JNR Shimogawara Line) is opened for traffic. 1913: Telephone service commenced. 1916: Keiō Electric Tram (part of present Keiō Line) opened for traffic. 1922: Tama Railroad (present Seibu Tamagawa Line) is opened for traffic. 1925: Gyokunan Electric Railroad (part of the present Keiō Line) opened for traffic. 1929: Nanbu Railroad (present JR East Nambu Line) opened for traffic. 1943: Tokyo Prefecture merged with Tokyo City, forming Tokyo-to. 1954 April 1: Fuchū Town, Tama Village, Nishifu Village merged into Fuchū City, with the structure of a city. 1956: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Honshūku. 1961: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Chōfu. 1968: The 300 million yen robbery occurred in Harumicho. This was the biggest robbery in the history of the nation. 1973: The Musashino Line opened for