Rikuchū Province

Rikuchū Province (陸中国) was an old province in the area of Iwate and Akita Prefectures. It was sometimes called Rikushū (陸州), with Rikuzen and Mutsu Provinces.

Rikuchu covered most of modern-day Iwate Prefecture: with the exceptions of Ninohe District, Ninohe City, the northern portion of Hachimantai City, and the northern portion of Kuzumaki Town; Kesen District, Rikuzentakata City, Ōfunato City, and the southern portion of Kamaishi City; but also including Kazuno City and Kosaka Town in Akita Prefecture.

Rikuchū was created shortly after the Meiji Restoration out of part of Mutsu Province.

History

 * January 19, 1869: Rikuchu Province is separated from Mutsu Province
 * 1872: A census estimates the population at 510,521

Historical districts
Rikuchū Province consisted of eighteen districts:


 * Akita Prefecture
 * Kazuno District (鹿角郡)
 * Iwate Prefecture
 * Isawa District (胆沢郡)
 * Iwai District (磐井郡)
 * Higashiiwai District (東磐井郡) - dissolved
 * Nishiiwai District (西磐井郡)
 * Iwate District (岩手郡)
 * Kitaiwate District (北岩手郡) - merged with Minamiiwate District to re-create Iwate District on March 29, 1896
 * Minamiiwate District (南岩手郡) - merged with Kitaiwate District to re-create Iwate District on March 29, 1896
 * Esashi District (江刺郡) - dissolved
 * Kunohe District (九戸郡)
 * Kitakunohe District (北九戸郡) - merged with Minamikunohe District to re-create Kunohe District on March 29, 1896
 * Minamikunohe District (南九戸郡) - merged with Kitakunohe District to re-create Kunohe District on March 29, 1896
 * Shiwa District (紫波郡)
 * Hienuki District (稗貫郡) - dissolved
 * Hei District (閉伊郡)
 * Higashihei District (東閉伊郡) - merged with Kitahei and Nakahei Districts to become Shimohei District (下閉伊郡) on March 29, 1896
 * Kitahei District (北閉伊郡) - merged with Higashihei and Nakahei Districts to become Shimohei District on March 29, 1896
 * Minamihei District (南閉伊郡) - merged with Nishihei District to become Kamihei District (上閉伊郡) on March 29, 1896
 * Nakahei District (中閉伊郡) - merged with Higashihei and Kitahei Districts to become Shimohei District on March 29, 1896
 * Nishihei District (西閉伊郡) - merged with Minamihei District to become Kamihei District on March 29, 1896
 * Waga District (和賀郡)
 * Higashiwaga District (東和賀郡) - merged with Nishiwaga District to re-create Waga District on March 29, 1896
 * Nishiwaga District (西和賀郡) - merged with Higashiwaga District to re-create Waga District on March 29, 1896

Other websites

 * Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903