Bo, one of the capitals of the Shang dynasty, lay in what is now Cao .
Prior to the Boxer Rebellion, Cao was an area noted for its lawlessness. When local garrisons were weakened during the First Sino-Japanese War, a militia known as the Dadaohui ("Great Sword Company") was set up. It operated until 1895 and may have inspired some of the Boxer Rebellion.
Administrative divisions
As of 2012, this County is divided to 5 subdistricts, 19 towns, 1 ethnic town and 2 townships.[3]
Subdistricts
Caocheng Subdistrict (曹城街道)
Panshi Subdistrict (磐石街道)
Qinghe Subdistrict (青菏街道)
Zhengzhuang Subdistrict (郑庄街道)
Niji Subdistrict (倪集街道)
Towns
Zhuangzhai (庄寨镇)
Pulianji (普连集镇)
Qingguji (青固集镇)
Taoyuanji (桃源集镇)
Hanji (韩集镇)
Zhuanmiao (砖庙镇)
Guyingji (古营集镇)
Weiwan (魏湾镇)
Suji (苏集镇)
Sunlaojia (孙老家镇)
Gedianlou (阎店楼镇)
Liangditou (梁堤头镇)
Ancailou (安才楼镇)
Shaozhuang (邵庄镇)
Wangji (王集镇)
Qinggangji (青岗集镇)
Changleji (常乐集镇)
Daji (大集镇)
Wulou (仵楼镇)
Ethnic Towns
Houji Hui Town (侯集回族镇)
Townships
Louzhuang Township (楼庄乡)
Niuhongmiao Township (朱洪庙乡)
Demographics
Cao County, under Heze City in Shandong Province, China, according to the latest statistics, had a population of 1,682,369. The county covers an area of approximately 1,970 square kilometers with a population density of 854 people per square kilometer. The population comprises mainly the Han Chinese ethnic group; however, it also has other ethnic groups. Cao County is an extensive agricultural producer from wheat and cotton to an expanding industrial base of manufacturing and textiles.
Climate
Climate data for Caoxian (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)