Wakaba Ward (若葉区, Wakaba-ku) is one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of April 2012, the ward had an estimated population of 151,593 and a population density of 1,800 persons per km2. The total area was 84.21 km2, making it the largest of the six wards of Chiba city.
Geography
Wakaba Ward is located in an inland area of southeastern Chiba city.
After the Meiji Restoration, the area of present-day Wakaba Ward was divided on April 1, 1889 into the villages of Tsuga, Miyako, Chishiro, Shirai and Sarashina within Chiba District. On February 11, 1935, Tsuga and Miyako villages were annexed by the neighboring city of Chiba, followed by Chishiro village on February 11, 1944. On March 31, 1955, Shirai and Sarashina merged to form the new town of Izumi, which was subsequently annexed by the city of Chiba on April 10, 1963.
With the promotion of Chiba to a designated city with additional autonomy from Chiba prefecture and the central government on April 1, 1992, Wakaba Ward was created as an administrative unit.
Economy
Wakaba Ward is largely a regional commercial center and bedroom community for central Chiba and Tokyo.
