is one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and is the seat of the city government, and the location of the prefectural government offices for Chiba Prefecture. It is also the commercial center of Chiba. As of April 2012, the ward had an estimated population of 200,157 and a population density of 4,470 persons per km². The total area was 44.81 km², making it the most populous of the six wards of Chiba city. Geography Chūō Ward is located in southwestern Chiba city, facing Tokyo Bay. Much of the coastal area of the ward is built on reclaimed land. Surrounding municipalities Inage Ward Mihama Ward Midori Ward Wakaba Ward Ichihara, Chiba History The fortified residence (Inohana Castle) of the Chiba clan was located in the area of present-day Chūō Ward during the Kamakura period. The area was controlled by the Satomi clan during the Sengoku period, and was mostly tenryo territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the area of present-day Chūō Ward was divided on April 1, 1889 into the town of Chiba and villages of Soga, Miyako, Chishiro, and Oihama within Chiba District. Soga was raised to town status on May 23, 1890, and Chiba Town became Chiba City on January 1, 1921. On November 10, 1928, Oihama was raised to town status. The city of Chiba annexed Soga and Miyako on February 11, 1937, followed by Chishiro on February 11, 1944 and Oihama on February 11, 1955. With the promotion of Chiba to a designated city with additional autonomy from Chiba prefecture and the central government on April 1, 1992, the city was divided into six wards, with the central ward designed Chūō Ward. Economy Chūō Ward is the center for industry and commerce for Chiba City. During the post-war era, the area developed largely as a company town to the neighboring steel works of Kawasaki Steel (JFE Steel Corporation). Transportation Railroads JR East – Sōbu Line JR East – Uchibō Line JR East – Sotobō Line JR East – Keiyō Line Keisei Electric Railway – Keisei Chiba Line Nishi-Nobuto - Shin-Chiba - Keisei Chiba - Chiba-Chūō - - Keisei Electric Railway – Keisei Chihara Line Chiba Urban Monorail – Line 1 Chiba Chiba-kōen Sakusabe Tendai Anagawa Sports Center Dōbutsukōen Mitsuwadai Tsuga Sakuragi Oguradai Chishirodai-Kita Chishirodai Chiba Urban Monorail – Line 2