is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. , the town has an estimated population of 7,506 in 2678 households, and a population density of 20 persons per km². The total area of the town is . Geography Mamurogawa is located in the extreme northern Yamagata Prefecture, bordering on Akita Prefecture to the north. The town is located in the Shinjō Valley, surrounding by low mountains on all sides, with the Ōu Mountains to the northeast. The area is known for its heavy snowfalls in winter. Neighboring municipalities Yamagata Prefecture Sakata Shinjō Sakegawa Kaneyama Akita Prefecture Yurihonjō Yuzawa Climate Mamurogawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Mamurogawa is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Mamurogawa peaked in the 1950s and has declined by more than half since then. It is now less than it was a century ago. History The area of present-day Mamurogawa was part of ancient Dewa Province and the location of Sakenobe Castle in the Sengoku period. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Mamurogawa was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. During World War II, an airbase for training pilots was established by the Imperial Japanese Army. The site is now a park, and part of the grounds of the local high school. Mamurogawa was elevated to town status on April 1, 1950. On August 1, 1954, it absorbed the neighboring villages of Araki and Nozoki. Economy The economy of Mamurogawa is based on agriculture and forestry. Education Mamurogawa has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation Railway East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line - - - Highway – Mamurogawa interchange Local attractions Kabusan Prefectural Park Tokasaka Dam Notes External links Official Website Towns in Yamagata Prefecture Mamurogawa, Yamagata