Matsuda, Kanagawa 2.62

Matsuda is a town located in Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2012, the town had an estimated population of 11,595 and a population density of 307 persons per km2. The total land area of the town is 37.75 km2.GeographyMatsuda is located in hilly western Kanagawa Prefecture, within the Tanzawa Mountains.Since the town lies on an active fault, the local government has been preparing for a possible magnitude-8 earthquake in the upcoming century.Surrounding municipalitiesHadanoMinamiashigaraKaisei, Yamakita, ŌiHistoryDuring the Edo period area around present-day Matsuda was part of Odawara Domain in Sagami Province. After the Meiji Restoration, it became part of Ashigarakami District in Kanagawa Prefecture. On April 1, 1889 Ashikagakami District was administratively divided into several villages, including the villages of Yadoriki and Matsuda. The growth of Matsuda was favored by the opening of Matsuda Station the same year, and it attained town status on April 1, 1909. Shin-Matsuda Station opened in 1927. On April 1, 1955 Yadoriki merged into Matsuda. A new town charter was promulgated in 1989, leading to the "Matsuda Plan 21" in the year 2001.