Miaoli County

Miaoli County
苗栗縣
County

Top:A night view of Tongluo, Second left:Lonteng Ancient Bridge, Second right:Liyu Reserve Lake, Third left :Chunhsiang Strawberry Farm Park, Third right:Hakka Cultural Park, Bottom left: Osmamthus Street in Nanchuang, Bottom right:Mount Huoyen

Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 24°33′48.29″N 120°49′32.98″E / 24.5634139°N 120.8258278°E / 24.5634139; 120.8258278Coordinates: 24°33′48.29″N 120°49′32.98″E / 24.5634139°N 120.8258278°E / 24.5634139; 120.8258278
Country Republic of China (Taiwan)
Region western Taiwan
Seat Miaoli City
Largest city Toufen
Boroughs 2 cities, 16 (5 urban, 11 rural) townships
Government
 • County magistrate Hsu Yao-chang (KMT)
Area
 • Total 1,820.3149 km2 (702.8275 sq mi)
Area rank 11 of 22
Population (December 2014)
 • Total 567,132
 • Rank 13 of 22
 • Density 310/km2 (810/sq mi)
Time zone National Standard Time (UTC+8)
Website www.miaoli.gov.tw
Symbols
Bird European magpie (Pica pica)
Flower Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
Tree Tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans)
Miaoli County
Traditional Chinese 苗栗縣
Simplified Chinese 苗栗县

Miaoli County (Chinese: 苗栗縣; pinyin: Miáolì Xiàn) is a county in western Taiwan. Miaoli is contiguous with Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City to the north, Taichung to the south, and borders the Taiwan Strait to the west. The Council for Economic Planning and Development of Taiwan classifies Miaoli as a county of Central Taiwan, while the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau classifies Miaoli as a county of the North. 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.

Name

The name Miaoli was coined using two Hakka Chinese words, meu (貓; "cat") and li (狸; "raccoon dog") to phonetically approximate Pali (Bari) from the Taokas language. The resulting word (貓狸) is a widespread but non-orthodox variant referring to Viverridae. In 1889, during late Qing rule, the name was modified from various forms (貓裏, 貓裡, 貓里) to its current form.

History

Evidence of settlement in Miaoli dates back a thousand years. Many archaeological artifacts have been found showing that during the prehistoric era, people lived in the river terrace. They mainly led an agriculture life and engaged in hunting and fishing for their extra food source. About a thousand years ago, an indigenous group Taokas settled here.

In the mid-17th century, Han Chinese began to migrate into the area, beginning a gradual process of deforestation and establishment of permanent settlement sites. The prior inhabitants of Miaoli were either assimilated into the dominant Han population, or migrated deeper into the mountainous range. After several hundred years, Miaoli had become the home of people from different origins, such as Hakka, Hoklo, Atayal and Saisiyat.[1]

Kingdom of Tungning

After Koxinga took over Taiwan from the Netherlands, he placed Miaoli into Tian-Sing County (天興縣) and started an immigration plan to develop this area.

Qing Dynasty

After the last Tungning Ruler Zheng Keshuang surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, Tian-sing County was renamed Zhuluo County. In 1889, Miaoli Hsien (苗栗縣) was established as an independent county under Taiwan Prefecture. At the end of the 19th century, thousands of acres of high-quality fertile fields had been reclaimed in the area of Nanzhuang, Shitan, Dahu and Zhuolan. Public and private schools were also established all over Miaoli which made the area a place of gathering intellectuals and elites in northern Taiwan.

Empire of Japan

The county was at first eliminated under Japanese Imperial rule. Byōritsu Chō (Japanese: 苗栗廳) existed from ca. 1901 to 1908, but was split over Shinchiku Chō (新竹廳) and Taichū Chō (臺中廳) in 1909. From 1920 to 1945, Byōritsu Town (苗栗街), Enri Town (苑裡街) and six villages were under the jurisdiction of Byōritsu District, under Shinchiku Prefecture.

Republic of China

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the present day area of Miaoli County was incorporated to Hsinchu County. On 16 August 1950, the government re-established Miaoli county on 16 August 1950 with Miaoli township as the county seat. On 25 December 1981, Miaoli Township was upgraded from township to a county-controlled city.

Geography

Miaoli County is considered to be located in the central northern part of the island of Taiwan, contiguous with Hsinchu county, Hsinchu City, and Taichung City. The Xueshan Range is located on the border between Miaoli county and Taichung City. Miaoli county north to south averages about 50 kilometers and east to west averages about 64 kilometers. It is roughly diamond-shaped in appearance. The overall coastline of Miaoli is about 50 kilometers long.

Miaoli has little flat lands (plateau) and very mountainous due to the Xueshan Range. Miaoli has rich rainfall along with abundant rivers.

Administrative divisions

Hsu Yao-chang, Magistrate of Miaoli County
Miaoli City, the county seat of Miaoli County
Miaoli County Government
Miaoli County Council

Miaoli County is divided into 2 cities, 5 urban townships and 11 rural townships. Miaoli County has the second highest number of urban townships after Changhua County. Miaoli City is the county seat which houses the Miaoli County Government and Miaoli County Council. The incumbent Magistrate of Miaoli County is Hsu Yao-chang of the Kuomintang.

Township Name Chinese Name Surface Area（km²） Number of Villages Number of Neighborhoods Population Density（person/km²）
Cities
Miaoli City苗栗市37.88722870290,0632,401
Toufen City頭份市53.3232538102,6541,925
Urban Townships
Houlong Township後龍鎮75.80722336738,360506
Tongxiao Township通霄鎮107.7682439436,941343
Yuanli Township苑裡鎮68.24722536048,589712
Zhunan Township竹南鎮37.55922551583,6222,226
Zhuolan Township卓蘭鎮75.3161117618,353240
Rural Townships
Dahu Township大湖鄉90.83921218015,549171
Gongguan Township公館鄉71.4521928134,847488
Nanzhuang Township南庄鄉165.4936918410,67465
Sanwan Township三灣鄉52.2968937,132136
Sanyi Township三義鄉69.3424716117,235249
Shitan Township獅潭鄉79.43271004,72559
Tongluo Township銅鑼鄉78.381021818,909241
Touwu Township頭屋鄉52.504812011,377217
Xihu Township西湖鄉41.075291087,589185
Zaoqiao Township造橋鄉47.9976911813,456280
Mountain Indigenous Township
Tai'an Township泰安鄉614.59368646,15710
Miaoli County苗栗縣1,820.31492744,679567,132312

Demographics and culture

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985 550,343—    
1990 547,609−0.5%
1995 560,128+2.3%
2000 559,703−0.1%
2005 559,986+0.1%
2010 560,968+0.2%
2015 563,912+0.5%
Source:"Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census. 

Population

The main population of Miaoli County is comprised by the Han Chinese and the Taiwanese aborigines. The Taiwanese aborigines constitute about 1.9% of the total population while the Hakka are the main group of Han Chinese.

Taiwanese aborigines

The Saisiat currently reside in the Wufeng Township of Hsinchu County and the Nanzhuang Township of Miaoli County.[2] Due the oppression by initial Han immigrants, the Atayal aboriginal group and the Nanzhuang Incident, the population of the Saisiat people have decreased to 5,000 people. It is the least populous Taiwanese aboriginal group after the Thao people. The traditions and culture of the Saisiat is greatly impacted by the Atayal aborigines and Hakka people in the region.

Han Chinese

During the Qing Dynasty, Miaoli was inhabited by Hakka. Currently, the inhabitants of the four coastal townships of Miaoli (Nanzhuang Township, Houlong Township, Tongxiao Township, and Yuanli Township) consists of primarily Taiwanese Hokkien speakers. With the exception of the four coastal townships and Tai'an Township, the main population consists of Hakka.

Sports

The main sports and recreational structures in Miaoli include Miaoli Sports Hall, Miaoli County Tennis Court, and the Park of Zhunan Township. In Taiwan National Athletic Games of 2011, Miaoli is ranked 21 out of 22 teams with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 8 bronze.

Economy

Popular regional agriculture, food production and culture promoted by the government include strawberries from Dahu Township, Hakka zongzi, Sanwan Chinese pears, Touwu Daikons, Sanyi wood sculptures, Tai’an persimmons, and many more.

Annual revenue of Miaoli County is NT$22 billion, while its annual expenditure is NT$32 billion.[3] Monthly, Miaoli County Government spends NT$600 million on their staffs salaries and another NT$600 million for retirement obligation. As of July 2015, the county government has a debt of NT$64.8 billion.[4]

Education

National United University

Education-related affairs in Miaoli County is regulated by Education Department of the Miaoli County Government. At the end of 2004, the population of people older than 15 years old was 451,128, among which 97.91% of them were literate. There were 108,052 college-educated, 156,870 senior high school or junior college graduates, 176,755 junior high school or lower graduates. The percentage of people receiving education higher than college was relatively low.[5]

Miaoli County houses several universities and colleges, such as the National United University, Yu Da University, Asia-Pacific Institute of Creativity and Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management.

Energy

Power generation

Tunghsiao Power Plant

Miaoli County houses the gas-fired Tunghsiao Power Plant in Tongxiao Township, the second largest gas-fired power plant in Taiwan with a capacity of 1,815 MW.

Water supply

The Mingte Dam in Touwu Township supplies water for irrigation and water supply for the county. The dam has a capacity of 17.1 million cubic meters.

Tourism

Tourist arrivals to Miaoli in 2011 was 17,000,000 people.[6]

Tourist attractions

Longteng Bridge in Sanyi Township
Taiwan Oil Field Exhibition Hall

Nature

Nature tourism in Miaoli County including Flying Cow Ranch, Shei-Pa National Park, Waipu Fishing Port and Yongheshan Reservoir.

Museums

Miaoli County houses several museums, such as Huoyan Mountain Ecology Museum, Miaoli Ceramics Museum, Miaoli County Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Miaoli Railway Museum, Museum of Saisiat Folklore, Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum, Taiwan Oil Field Exhibition Hall and Zaochiao Charcoal Museum.

Cultural centers

Cultural centers in the county include the Miaoli Park, Wu Zhuo-liu Art and Cultural Hall, Yingtsai Academy and Hakka Round House.

Theme parks

Theme parks in the county is West Lake Resortopia.

Temples

Temple in the county is Zhonggang Cihyu Temple.

Festivals

The various cultural festivals of Miaoli County includes, Miaoli Marine Tourism, Meng-Hua Literary Award, Hakka Tung Hua Festival, Hakka folk song festival, Miaoli international tourism festival, etc.

Transportation

TRA Miaoli Station
HSR Miaoli Station
Miaoli Bus Station

Rail

The Taiwan Railways Administration passes through Miaoli County through the Coastal Line and Taichung Line. The Coastal Line consists of Qiding, Zhunan, Tanwen, Dashan, Houlong, Longgang, Baishatun, Xinpu, Tongxiao and Yuanli Station. The Taichung Line consists of Zhunan, Zaoqiao, Fengfu, Miaoli, Nanshi, Tongluo and Sanyi Station.

Taiwan High Speed Rail passes north to south through Miaoli and has one of its station in the county, which is the Miaoli Station located in Houlong Township.

Road

Both Taiwan No 1 and Taiwan No 3 highways have stops here.

Relative location

References

  1. ↑ "About Miaoli - Miaoli County Government". miaoli.gov.tw.
  2. ↑ http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=1374&Keyword=%E8%8B%97%E6%A0%97
  3. ↑ "Miaoli County government has no money to pay salaries (update)".
  4. ↑ "Miaoli County government has no money to pay salaries". focustaiwan.tw.
  5. ↑ "Population - Miaoli County Government". miaoli.gov.tw.
  6. ↑ "Culture and Tourism Buresu of Miaoli - Getting to Know Miaoli".
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