Yonghe County (Chinese: 永和县; pinyin: Yǒnghé Xiàn) is a county in the southwest of Shanxi province, China, bordering Shaanxi province to the west across the Yellow River. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Linfen, and located in its northwest corner. The county spans an area of 1,214 square kilometres (469 mi2), and, as of the 2010 Chinese Census, the county had a population of 63,649. The county government's seat is located in the town of Zhihe.
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History
In 619 CE, the area was organized as Donghezhou (Chinese: 东和州). In 628 CE, Donghezhou was abolished, and the area was placed under the jurisdiction of Xizhou.
People's Republic of China
Upon the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the county was placed under the jurisdiction of the prefecture of Linfen. In 1954, the county was placed under the administration of Jinnan Prefecture. In 1958, Yonghe County was briefly abolished. Upon the country's re-establishment in 1961, it was returned to Jinnan Prefecture. In 1970, the county was placed under the jurisdiction of the prefecture of Linfen, which became a prefecture-level city in 2000.
Geography
Yonghe County's highest point reaches 1,524 metres (5,000 ft) above sea level, and its lowest point, along the Yellow River, is 511.9 metres (1,679 ft) above sea level. The Yellow River flows through the county from north to south, as well as numerous tributaries, such as the Zhi River (Chinese: 芝河; pinyin: Zhī Hé) and the Sangbi River (Chinese: 桑壁河; pinyin: Sāngbì Hé) both flow through the county. The county is located in the southern end of the Lüliang Mountains.
Administrative divisions
Yonghe County administers two towns and five townships.
Towns
The county's two towns are Zhihe and Sangbi.
Townships
The county's five townships are Gedi Township, Nanzhuang Township, Dashiyao Township, Potou Township, and Jiaokou Township.
Demographics
In the 2010 Chinese Census, the county's population totaled 63,649, up from the 61,001 recorded in the 2000 Chinese Census. A 1996 estimate put the county's population at approximately 60,000.