The basic data for this study are the statistics of the diversion of the registered landuse. The land diverted from arable to urban use will hereafter be referred to as diverted land. The area of diverted land is shown in maps by each “
Koaza” - the smallest settlement unit. The whole area under survey is divided into 21 units according to the former village boundaries before the amalgamation. Then the trends are analysed concerning the area of diverted land per unit region, and to the objects to which the land was diverted. Where the coastal terrace of this district is the widest, there are several factories of Hitachi Co., and two built-up areas called “Hitachi” and “Taga” . A little apart from Hitachi and Taga, there are large areas of diverted land. And outwards from this concentration, the diverted land decreases gradually. Around the railroad stations in this region, there are other isolated groups of diverted land.
In some case, the groups of diverted land are used for residence, commerce and manufacturing industry within the some groups. Such multiple utilization means that an urbanized region is grouping there into a new center of urban life.
In another group of the diverted land, the land is chiefly used either for residence or for factories. In this case, the landuse is mainly for one side of the city functions.
The northern suburbs of “Hitachi” are still quite rural, but a rapid growth of urban area is anticipated here, because there is a big factory near Ogitsu station. Between Hitachi and Ogitsu, many housings for rent are under construction under the subsidy of local governments.
In the diversion from arable to urban land, the Hitachi built-up area and the Hitachi Co. played the leading parts. Their influences spread in concentric circles, which also was modified by the influence of Taga and other regions, as well as the influence of several enterprises in Tokyo with their branches in Hitachi. The municipal authorities of Hitachi City have also modified these areal patterns.
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