Changes of City Hierarchy in Tsugaru District

relating to the population decrease

Abstract

Since 1955 the population of Tsugaru District started to decrease remarkably. This phenomenon seems to be related to the rapid urbanization which is taking place on a national scale. The population decrease first appeared on the outskirts of Tsugaru District, and then spread all over the district. While, two cities of Aomori and Hirosaki, which are the central cities of this area, have increased their populations.
The decrease was seen at first in towns and villages under 20, 000 inhabitants, then it involved more populated towns and villages, up until a city of 47, 600 inhabitants in 1960-1965 period. However, the populations increased in the densely inhabited districts (DID) of the two cities, Goshogawara and Kuroishi as well as Aomori and Hirosaki.
The population decrease in large areas affects the commercial activities of towns and cities. Small towns and cities in agricultural district decline concerning their commerical activities. Some of their commercial activities were absorbed by four central cities hierarchically ranked above them.
This is because the mortorization in agricultural areas made such a rapid and strong development that farmers can easily buy things from shops in cities farther than the cities in their surroundings. So that some shops at central cities are compelled to enlarge their management scale. And then according to such enlargement, the competition for their commercial spheres have occured among these cities.