Yutian County, Hebei

Yutian County is a county in the northeast of Hebei province, China, and is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Tangshan, bordering Tianjin to the north and west. It is located approximately 55 km northwest of Tangshan and 110 km east of Beijing, lying on China National Highway 102. It has an area of 1,169 km², and as of 2012, a population of approximately 680,000.

History
During the Spring and Autumn period, the area of present-day Yutian County belonged to the state of. During the Warring States period, it belonged to the state of Yan as part of Beiping Commandery. In the Qin dynasty, the area, which remained part of Beiping Commandery, was organized as. During the Han dynasty, the area was split between Wuzhong County and Xuwu County. Under the Northern Wei, Xuwu County was merged into Wuzhong County. During the Sui dynasty, Wuzhong County was renamed to Yuyang County.

In 619 CE, during the Tang dynasty, the eastern portion of Yuyang County was carved out into a new iteration of Wuzhong County. In 627 CE, Wuzhong County was once again abolished, and merged back into Yuyang County. In 667 CE, Wuzhong County was once again re-established, and placed under the jurisdiction of Youzhou. In 696 CE, Wuzhong County was renamed to Yutian County. In 705 CE, Yutian County was placed under the jurisdiction of. Throughout the following decades, the area was transferred back and forth between Youzhou and Yingzhou several times, before being placed under in 730 CE.

Later, during the Liao dynasty, the area was placed under the jurisdiction of. In 1124, the area was placed under the jurisdiction of, and the following year, Yutian County was transferred again to. During the Jin dynasty, during the final years of Emperor Zhangzong of Jin, the eastern portion of Yutian County was split off as Fengrun County. In 1265, Fengrun County was abolished, and merged back into Yutian County. The reunified Yutian County would shortly after be placed under the jurisdiction of.

During the Ming dynasty, Yutian County was under the jurisdiction of Jizhou throughout. In 1725, during the Qing dynasty, Yutian County was reassigned to fall under the jurisdiction of. In 1743, it was reassigned once again to.

In 1913, under the Republic of China, prefectures were abolished and replaced with circuits, and Yutian County was placed under the newly-formed. In 1928, circuits would be abolished, and the area would be placed directly under the jurisdiction of Hebei province.

Yutian County was placed under the administration of Tangshan in 1949. In May 1983, Tangshan was upgraded from a prefecture to a prefecture-level city.

Geography
Yutian County's elevation is generally higher in the north, which sits at the southern foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, and lower in the south. The Ji Canal River runs through the county, as does the.

Administrative divisions
Yutian County administers 1 subdistrict, 17 towns, 3 townships, and 2 other township-level divisions.

The county's sole subdistrict is, which hosts the county's seat of government.

The county's 17 towns are, , , , , Hongqiao, , , , , , , , , , , and.

The county's 3 townships are, , and.

The county also administers the township-level divisions of the Hebei Yutian Economic Development Zone and the Hebei Tangshan National Agricultural Technology Park.

Demographics
A 2012 estimate put the county's population at approximately 680,000. Per the 2010 Chinese census, Yutian County had a population of 684,833. A 2002 estimate pegged the county's population at about 650,500. The 2000 Chinese census recorded the county's population at 650,408.

Economy
Yutian County has significant deposits of coal, limestone, and dolomite.

Culture
, which dates back to the Tang dynasty, is located within Yutian County.

Transportation
The Beijing–Qinhuangdao railway and the Datong–Qinhuangdao railway both run through Yutian County. China National Highway 102 also runs through Yutian County.