and pig-rearing farms. As the village is on the Niigata plain, the rich soil deposited by the Shinano and Agano River make it ideal for agriculture. Demographics As of 2005, the village had an estimated population of 9,917 and a density of 274.63 persons per km². Its total area was 36.11 km². On March 21, 2005, Iwamuro, along with the cities of Niitsu, Shirone and Toyosaka, the towns of Kameda, Kosudo and Yokogoshi (all from Nakakanbara District), the town of Nishikawa, and the villages of Ajikata, Katahigashi, Nakanokuchi and Tsukigata (all from Nishikanbara District), was merged into the expanded city of Niigata. Since Iwamuro became part of there have been several changes in the area. For instance local government services have moved to Maki, Iwamuro's farming cooperative opened a new rice storage centre centralising grain collection for the entire area In April 2008 after closing six independent silos and the fishing cooperatives of Maze and Niigata city have both merged, although the fish market and boat repair yard both remain open. Iwamuro also has two independent sake makers both located in the heart of the old district at Iwamuro-onsen. Products are sold locally and are of a higher quality than commercially-made rice wine. There are two elementary schools and one Junior High School within Iwamuro. Iwamuro, as an area, incorporates more than 20 hamlets, villages and townships: Hiso Sakai Hashimoto Iwamuro-onsen Ishize Kubota Saragase Kanaike Minami-yachi Kitano Shitatori Nishinagashima Tokozone Araya Oburajima Takabatake Nishifunakoshi Katakami Nishinaka Natsui Wano Maze Kami-Wano See also Niigata City Nishikan-ku, Niigata Maki, Niigata (Nishikanbara) Iwamuro Station External links Niigata official website Niigata Nishikan-ku website 岩室甚句(新潟民謡) Iwamuro Folk Song Iwamuro Onsen Information page Dissolved municipalities of Niigata Prefecture