Map showing original extent of Nishiokitami District in Yamagata Prefecture yellow & dark green area=original extent in early Meiji period; light green=area added in Showa period; green=present area; 1=Oguni; 2=Shirataka; 3=Iide
Nishiokitama (西置賜郡, Nishiokitama-gun) is a rural district located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
As of December 2013, the district has an estimated population of 30,443 and an area of 1,224.89 km2. Most of the city of Nagai was formerly part of Nishiokitami District.
Okitami County was an ancient place name in part of Dewa Province. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the portion which became Nishiokitami district consisted of 116 villages entirely within the area controlled by Yonezawa Domain. The area was designated Yonezawa Prefecture in August 1871, renamed Okitami Prefecture in December 1871, and became part of Yamagata Prefecture in 1876. Nishiokitami District was created on November 1, 1878. With the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, it was organized into one town (Nagai) and 16 villages.
Historic Map of Nishiokitami District:
Nagai (town)
Nagai
Nishine
Koguwa
Ayukai
Arato
Shirataka
Higashine
Hirano
Toyoda
Toyohara
Sogawa
Toyokawa
Tsugawa
Oguni
Minami-Oguni
Kita-Oguni
Purple=Nagai City Orange=Oguni Town Red=Shirataka Town Pink=Iide Town
On December 3, 1890 Arato was raised to town status
On November 3, 1942 Oguni was raised to town status
On October 10, 1954 Shirataka was raised to town status
On November 15, 1954 Nagai was raised to city status
