Matsudo, Chiba

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**Matsudo City**
**松戸市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kanto
Prefecture	Chiba Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	61.33 km²
Population (as of January 1, 2007)
Total	481,119
Density	7,844.8/km²
Location	°′″N, °′″E
Symbols
Tree	Castanopsis, eucalyptus and cherry blossom
Flower	Azalea and hydrangea
Bird	Ural Owl, Barn Swallow and White Heron
Matsudo City City Hall
Mayor	Toshihisa Kawai
Address	〒271-8588 387-5, Nemoto, Matsudo, Chiba
Phone number	047-366-1111
Official website: Matsudo City

Coordinates: °′″N, °′″E

Matsudo (松戸市; -shi) is the third-largest city in Chiba, Japan, and a major bedroom community in the Greater Tokyo Area. As of January 1, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 481,119. The total area is 61.33 km².

[edit] History

The Matsudo area was mainly inhabited by farmers until the 1960s, and the village was only used as a stopover point on the road between Tokyo and Mito (supplanted by the opening of Matsudo Station on the Joban Line in 1896). Matsudo Town was incorporated in 1889 and became a city on April 1, 1943.

Beginning in the 1960s, the rapid economic growth in Japan (and the Tokyo area in particular) led to a construction boom in Matsudo and the development of the area as a major suburb of Tokyo.

[edit] Sister city

On May 12, 1971, Matsudo established a sister city relationship with the then City of Box Hill near the City of Melbourne, Australia. When Box Hill amalgamated with Nunawading in December 1994, the relationship was re-affirmed with the new City of Whitehorse.

A small, multi-story department store attached to Matsudo train station bears the name "Box Hill".