Most of the city of
Ishinomaki was formerly within the district. From 2006, the district has consisted only of the town of
Onagawa. As of 2021, the district has an estimated
population of 5,636 and a
population density of 86.2 persons per km2. The total area was 65.35 km2.
History
During the
Edo period under the
Tokugawa shogunate, the district was within
Mutsu Province and was under the control of the
Date clan of
Sendai Domain. In 1869, following the
Meiji restoration, Mutsu Province was divided, with the area of Oshika District becoming part of Rikuzen Province, and from 1872, part of Miyagi Prefecture.
In 1889, with the establishment of the municipalities, Oshika District was administratively divided into 2 towns (Ishinomaki and Watanoha) and 6 villages.
Timeline
April 1, 1923 : The village of Onagawa gained town status. (3 towns, 5 villages)
April 1, 1933 : Ishinomaki annexes part of Hebita and is raised to city status. (2 towns, 5 villages)
December 1, 1940 : The village of Ayukawa is raised to town status. (3 towns, 4 villages)
January 1, 1955 : Ishinomaki annexes the remainder of Hebita village. (3 towns, 3 villages)
March 26, 1955 : The town of Ayukawa and village of Ohara merge to form the town of Oshika. (3 towns, 2 villages)
April 10, 1955 : The village of Oginohama is merged into Ishinomaki (3 towns, 1 village)
April 1, 1959 -:The village of Inai is raised to town status (4 towns)
May 15, 1959 : Oginohama is divided between Ishinomaki and Inai (3 towns)
March 23, 1967: The town of Inai is annexed by Ishinomaki. (2 towns)