Paechon County

Paech'ŏn County 배천군
County
Korean transcription(s)
• Hanja	白川郡
• McCune-Reischauer	Paech'ŏn-gun
• Revised Romanization	Baecheon-gun
Country	North Korea
Province	South Hwanghae Province
Area
• Total	512.4 km^2 (197.8 sq mi)
Population  (2008[1])
• Total	159,825
• Density	310/km^2 (810/sq mi)

Paech'ŏn County is a county in South Hwanghae province, North Korea.

Etymology

The modern name comes from a corruption of the old name "Paikju(白 州)" which originated from the region's role as a silver mine.The syllable ju was replaced with chon following the name convention at the time. The region was also called Unsan(銀山, silver mountain) because of this. [2]

History

The region was called Toraphyeon(The word Torap had the meaning of a big town in the local language) during the time of Goguryeo, and was historically known as Paikju since 940.[3]In 1403, the word Paechon first appears after the region got this name.The county was officially created in 1895, but was remerged into Yeonbaek county in 1915.[4] The modern county was recreated from some areas of the former Yeonbaek County in 1952.The county became part of south hwanghae in 1954.[2]

Administrative divisions

Paech'ŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 1 rodongjagu (workers' district) and 26 ri (villages):

Paech'ŏn-ŭp(배천읍,白川邑):Administrative capital of the subdivision. Pongryang-rodongjagu(봉량로동자구,鳳兩勞動者區):The name comes from the former subdivisions of Bipongri(飛鳳里) and ryangchonri(兩里).[5] Chŏngch'ol-li Ch'angp'o-ri Ch'ujŏng-ri Hangjŏng-ri Hŭngyŏl-li Hwasal-li Hwayang-ri Ilgong-ri Kangho-ri(강호리,江湖里):name comes from the former subdivisions of Seonghori(星湖里) and Kangseori(江西里). The area controlled by the subdivision also included the area of the former Upori(牛浦里).[6] Kŭmgong-ri Kŭmsal-li Kŭmsŏng-ri

Mulgil-li Munsal-li:Aho-dong is located here. Obong-ri Panghyŏl-li Ponghwa-ri Ryongdong-ri Ryuch'ŏl-li Sŏksal-li Subong-ri Suwŏl-li Ulgil-li Unsal-li Wŏnsal-li Yŏkku-ri

Transportation

Paech'ŏn county is served by the Paech'ŏn Line of the Korean State Railway.

References

1. North Korea: Administrative Division
2. "배천군 개요".
3. "백주(白州)".
4. "연백군".
5. "봉량노동자구".
6. "강호리개요".

37.9797°N 126.3042°E / 37.9797; 126.3042