Hsinchu County 新竹縣 [I] | |
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Coordinates: 24°50′0″N121°0′53″E / 24.83333°N 121.01472°E | |
Country | Republic of China (Taiwan) |
Province | Taiwan Province (nominal subdivision) |
Seat | Zhubei City |
Townships/cities | |
Government | |
• Body | |
• Magistrate | Yang Wen-ke (KMT) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,427.59 km2 (551.20 sq mi) |
• Rank | 12 of 22 |
Population (October 2023) | |
• Total | 588,535 |
• Rank | 10 of 22 |
• Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (National Standard Time) |
ISO 3166 code | TW-HSQ |
Website | www |
Symbols | |
Bird | Muller's barbet ( Megalaima oorti ) |
Flower | Camellia |
Tree | Broad-leaved podocarpus ( Nageia nagi ) |
Hsinchu County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 新竹 縣 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hsinchu County [I] is a county in north-western Taiwan. The population of the county is mainly Hakka;with a Taiwanese aboriginal minority in the southeastern part of the county. Zhubei is the county seat,where the government office and county office is located. A portion of the Hsinchu Science Park is located in Hsinchu County.
Before the arrival of the Han Chinese,the Hsinchu area was home to the indigenous Taokas,Saisiyat,and Atayal. After the Spanish occupied northern Taiwan,Catholic missionaries arrived at Tek-kham in 1626. Minnanese (Hoklo) and Hakka came and began to cultivate the land from the plains near the sea towards the river valleys and hills.
In 1684,Zhuluo County was established during Qing dynasty rule and more Han settled near Tek-kham. A Chinese city was established there in 1711 and renamed Hsinchu in 1875. [1] It became part of Taipeh Prefecture. In the late 19th century,Hoklo people dominated the coastal plains,forcing the Saisiyat and Atayal tribes to move to areas around Jianshi and Wufeng,while the Hakka and Taokas settled together in the river valleys and hills.
Japanese occupation of Taiwan began after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. Hsinchu became known as Shinchiku and,by 1920,its prefecture covered the areas of modern-day Hsinchu County and City,Miaoli,and Taoyuan.
Like the rest of the Taiwan,the county is part of the nominal Taiwan Province of the Republic of China (ROC),which s no longer has any administrative function practically. After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945,Hsinchu County was established on 25 December 1945. [2] In August 1950,Miaoli and Taoyuan were taken out from the county area to form Miaoli County and Taoyuan County respectively. [3] On 16 August 1950,Hsinchu City was incorporated to the county as county-administered city. However,the city was then upgraded again to become a provincial city on 1 July 1982 and was taken out from Hsinchu County area. The county's Xiangshan Township was incorporated into Hsinchu City on 1 July 1982. In 2021,plans are underway to have both Hsinchu county and city merged into the nation's seventh special municipality. [4]
Hsinchu County is located at the northwest part of Taiwan Island. The county borders Taoyuan City to the north,Miaoli County to the south,the Taiwan Strait to the west,and the Xueshan &Dabajian mountains to the east. With an area spanning up to 1,427.59 km2 (551.20 sq mi),Hsinchu County is composed mainly of uplands,tablelands,mountains,the alluvial plains of the Fengshan River and Touqian River mouth area,and some ancient river land. [2]
The average climate in Hsinchu County is mild. [5]
Hsinchu County controls 1 city,3 urban townships,6 rural townships and 2 mountain indigenous townships. [6] [7] [8] Zhubei City is the seat of Hsinchu County which houses the Hsinchu County Government and Hsinchu County Council. The incumbent Magistrate of Hsinchu County is Yang Wen-ke of the Kuomintang. The administrative division of the county are:
Type | Name | Chinese | Hokkien | Hakka | Formosan |
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City | Zhubei City | 竹北 市 | Tek-pak | Tsuk-pet | |
Urban townships (towns) | Guanxi | 關西 鎮 | Koan-se | Kûan-sî | Kansai Atayal |
Xinpu | 新埔 鎮 | Sin-po͘ | Sîn-phû | ||
Zhudong | 竹東 鎮 | Tek-tang | Tsuk-tûng | ||
Rural townships | Baoshan | 寶山 鄉 | Pó-san | Pó-sân | |
Beipu | 北埔 鄉 | Pak-po͘ | Pet-phû | ||
Emei | 峨眉 鄉 | Gô-bî | Ngô-mì | ||
Hengshan | 橫山 鄉 | Hoâiⁿ-san | Vàng-sân | ||
Hukou | 湖口 鄉 | Ô͘-kháu | Fù-khiéu | ||
Qionglin | 芎林 鄉 | Khiông-nâ | Khiûng-lìm | ||
Xinfeng | 新豐 鄉 | Sin-hong | Sîn-fûng | ||
Mountain indigenous townships | Jianshi | 尖石 鄉 | Chiam-chio̍h | Tsiâm-sa̍k | Nahuy Atayal |
Wufeng | 五峰 鄉 | Ngó͘-hong | Ńg-fûng | Gohogo Atayal,Saisiyat |
Colors indicate the common language status of Hakka and Formosan languages within each division.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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1985 | 366,566 | — |
1990 | 374,492 | +2.2% |
1995 | 408,577 | +9.1% |
2000 | 439,713 | +7.6% |
2005 | 487,692 | +10.9% |
2010 | 513,015 | +5.2% |
2015 | 542,042 | +5.7% |
2020 | 570,775 | +5.3% |
Source: "Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census. May 2018. |
The population of the county consists of Hakka, Hoklo, aborigines and new immigrants. The Hakka people constituted around 84% of the total population in 2014, while the aborigines consisted mainly of Atayal and Saisiyat people. [9] As of October 2023, the total population was 588,535, with 288,912 females and 299,623 males. [10]
After the founding of Hsinchu Science Park in 1980, a high number of high-tech industries began to grow and expand outside the park, attracting workers coming to work and settle in the county.
Education in Hsinchu County is administered by the Education Department of Hsinchu County Government. The county is home to the Minghsin University of Science and Technology and Ta Hwa University of Science and Technology.
Hsinchu County is home to the gas-fired Hsintao Power Plant with a capacity of 600 MW located in Guanxi Township.
Hsinchu County houses the Baoshan Dam and Baoshan Second Dam.
Hsinchu County has one professional basketball team, the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers of the P. League+. [11]
The Hsinchu Station of the Taiwan High Speed Rail is located in the county at Zhubei City. Hsinchu County is crossed by three Taiwan Railways Administration lines, which are the Liujia Line, Neiwan Line and Western Line.
Hsinchu is a city located in northwestern Taiwan. It is the most populous city in Taiwan that is not a special municipality, with estimated 450,655 inhabitants. Hsinchu is a coastal city bordering the Taiwan Strait to the west, Hsinchu County to the north and east, and Miaoli County to the south. Hsinchu is nicknamed the Windy City for its strong northeastern monsoon during the autumn and winter seasons.
The Saisiyat, also spelled Saisiat, are an indigenous people of Taiwan. In 2000 the Saisiyat numbered 5,311, which was approximately 1.3% of Taiwan's total indigenous population, making them one of the smallest aboriginal groups in the country. The Saisiyat inhabit Western Taiwan, overlapping the border between Hsinchu County and Miaoli County. They are divided into the Northern Branch and the Southern Branch, each with its own dialect. Their language is also known as Saisiyat.
Taoyuan is a special municipality located in northwestern Taiwan, neighboring New Taipei City to the north-east, Yilan County to the south-east, and Hsinchu County to the south-west. Taoyuan District is the seat of the municipal government and which, along with Zhongli District, forms a large metropolitan area. Taoyuan developed from a satellite city of Taipei metropolitan area to become the fourth-largest metropolitan area, and fifth-largest populated city in Taiwan. "Taoyuan" literally means "peach garden" in Chinese, since the area used to have many peach trees. Formerly a county, Taoyuan became the latest new founding special municipality in 2014.
Miaoli County is a county in western Taiwan. Miaoli is bordered by Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City to the north, Taichung to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the west. Miaoli is classified as "central Taiwan" by the National Development Council and "northern Taiwan" by the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau. Miaoli City is the capital of the county, and is also known as "Mountain Town", owing to the number of mountains nearby, making it a destination for hiking.
Zhubei is a city in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It is one of the island's fastest-growing settlements, with a population gain of 51,000 between 2010 and 2019, the highest of any township/city or district. The city has attracted migration both because of its proximity to Hsinchu City and the Hsinchu Science and Technology Park, and because the Hsinchu County government has focused most of its infrastructure here.
Saisiyat is the language of the Saisiyat, a Taiwanese indigenous people. It is a Formosan language of the Austronesian family. It has approximately 4,750 speakers.
Baoshan Township is a rural township in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It is ostensibly a suburb of Hsinchu City to the north and west, and is also bounded by Zhudong City to the east, Beipu and Emei Towns to the south, and Miaoli County to the west.
Guanxi Township or Guansi Township is an urban township in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The population of the township consists mainly of the Hakkas with a minority of the indigenous Atayal people.
Zhudong Township is an urban township in central Hsinchu County, Taiwan. Part of Hsinchu Science Park is in Zhudong. Also located in Zhudong is the main campus of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Zhudong is approximately 20 minutes drive from Hsinchu town center on one of two freeways, route 3 North, which passes nearby and route 68 East which proceeds directly through Zhudong.
Hsinchu is a railway station in Hsinchu County, Taiwan served by Taiwan High Speed Rail. It opened for service in 2006. The station was designed by Taiwanese architect Kris Yao. Transfers to TRA Liujia station can be made at this station, which links to the Hsinchu TRA station located In Hsinchu City. Hsinchu HSR station is 11 km away from Hsinchu TRA station.
Xinfeng Township is a rural township in Hsinchu County in northern Taiwan. It had an estimated population of 58,614 as of February 2023.
Provincial Highway 3 is a 435.608km long Taiwanese highway that starts in Taipei and ends in Pingtung. Also known as Inner-Mountain Highway (內山公路), the road travels through mountainous towns in Western Taiwan and was the major route for the area until Freeway 3 was built.
Jianshi Township is a mountain indigenous township in Hsinchu County in northern Taiwan. It had an estimated population of 9,532 as of February 2023. The main population is the indigenous Atayal people.
Wufeng Township is a mountain indigenous township in Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
Nanzhuang Township is a rural township in Miaoli County, Taiwan.
The history of Hsinchu extends over more than 400 years, making it one of the oldest cities in northern Taiwan.
The Hailu dialect, also known as the Hoiluk dialect or Hailu Hakka, is a dialect of Hakka Chinese that originated in Shanwei, Guangdong. It is also the second most common dialect of Hakka spoken in Taiwan.
Hsinchu County electoral constituencies consist of 2 single-member constituencies, each represented by a member of the Republic of China Legislative Yuan. From the 2020 legislative election onwards, the number of Hsinchu County's seats was increased to 2 due to the county's increase in population, as it exceeded the 315,019 average for each constituency.
Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area is a national scenic area located within central Taiwan, spanning Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County. The area is composed of three non-contiguous scenic areas, which are all named after mountains, hence the name.
Hsinchu County's administrative area is divided into 1 county-administered city, 3 towns and 9 townships, namely: Zhubei City, Zhudong Town, Xinpu Town, Guanxi Town, Xinfeng Township, Emei Township, Baoshan Township, Wufeng Township, Hengshan Township, Beipu Township, Jianshi Township, Qionglin Township and Hukou Township.