Kaohsiung County

Kaohsiung County
Name	Kaohsiung County
Native name	高雄縣
Settlement type	Former county
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	Taiwan Province
Established title	Established
Established date	1945
Abolished title	Merged
Abolished date	2010
Area total km2	2958.49
Population total	1,501,000
Population as of	2009

Kaohsiung County was a former administrative division in southern Taiwan that existed from 1945 until its merger in 2010 into Kaohsiung City. The county encompassed urban fringes, rural townships, coastal plains, and mountainous terrain adjacent to Tainan County, Pingtung County, and the Taiwan Strait. It played a strategic role in postwar development, infrastructure projects, and cross-strait commerce.

History

The territory underwent multiple administrative changes from Qing dynasty rule through Japanese colonial administration and the post-1945 period under the Republic of China (Taiwan). Under Japanese rule, regions within the area were part of Takao Prefecture and saw investments tied to projects like the Kaohsiung Harbor expansion and sugar industry linked to Taiyen enterprises. After World War II, the county was established during the Republican reorganization and later experienced land reforms influenced by policies from the Kuomintang (KMT), which also affected rural tenure patterns similar to reforms in Chiayi County and Taichung County. During the Cold War, infrastructure investments paralleled defense considerations involving facilities near Zuoying and transport corridors connecting to Taipei. The 1990s democratization and local elections under figures from parties such as the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang (KMT) shifted local governance until the administrative consolidation with Kaohsiung City in 2010 following reforms advocated by the Executive Yuan and approved by the Legislative Yuan.

Geography

The county spanned coastal plains on the Taiwan Strait, river deltas formed by the Gaoping River, and foothills of the Central Mountain Range. Key geographical features included wetlands near the Gaomei Wetlands-style coastal zones, estuaries influenced by the Love River catchment, and forested slopes rising toward peaks used for watershed management linked to the Shoushan region. The coastline supported fishing communities comparable to those in Penghu and Pingtung County, while inland areas included agricultural basins known for rice paddies and fruit orchards akin to those in Yunlin County. The climate was subtropical monsoon, subject to typhoons tracked by the Central Weather Bureau and environmental monitoring coordinated with agencies like the Environmental Protection Administration (Taiwan).

Demographics

Population clusters were concentrated in suburban districts adjoining Kaohsiung City and in market towns such as Niaosong and Meinong. The demographic composition included Hoklo speakers, Hakka communities connected to Meinong Hakka culture, and indigenous groups linked historically to the Siraya and Rukai peoples. Migration patterns showed rural-to-urban movement echoed in places like Zuoying and Gangshan, and the county recorded demographic shifts similar to those observed in Taoyuan City and Hsinchu County during industrialization. Religious and ethnic life featured temples associated with Mazu worship, churches tied to Presbyterian Church in Taiwan missions, and community organizations mirrored by those in Tainan City.

Economy

The county economy combined agriculture, fisheries, light manufacturing, and service sectors. Agricultural outputs included rice, sugarcane linked historically to companies such as Taiyen and pineapple production comparable to Chiayi County patterns. Coastal fisheries operated vessels registered in ports like Qijin and supported processing industries resembling facilities in Keelung. Industrial parks adjacent to Kaohsiung City hosted firms from sectors seen in Taichung and Tainan industrial clusters, including petrochemical and steel supply chains connected to enterprises analogous to China Steel Corporation. Tourism around cultural sites and natural attractions paralleled initiatives in Yilan County and provided local employment alongside retail hubs modeled after districts in Kaohsiung City.

Government and administration

Administrative functions were overseen by county magistrates elected via local elections under laws administered by the Central Election Commission. The county was subdivided into urban townships and rural townships, coordinating with national ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan) for land administration and with the Ministry of Economic Affairs for industrial development. Legal and planning frameworks aligned with policies debated in the Legislative Yuan, and municipal consolidation with Kaohsiung City in 2010 followed directives from the Executive Yuan and precedents set by mergers like that of Taichung City and Taichung County.

Infrastructure and transportation

Transportation infrastructure included railway lines operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration and high-speed connections via corridors linking to the Taiwan High Speed Rail network through nearby hubs. Road systems comprised national highways and provincial highways connecting to Tainan City and Pingtung County, while maritime facilities utilized ports related to Kaohsiung Harbor and ferry services comparable to routes serving Kinmen County. Airports within regional reach included Kaohsiung International Airport, and public transit integration with Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit systems improved commuting between urban and suburban zones. Water resource projects mirrored initiatives like the Shihmen Reservoir program for irrigation and flood control.

Culture and attractions

Cultural heritage included traditional festivals such as lantern and Mazu processions similar to those in Lukang and folk crafts like oil-paper umbrella making found in Meinong. Historical and archaeological sites connected to the Dutch Formosa period and Qing-era settlements drew parallels with museums in Tainan City and collections held by institutions like the National Museum of Taiwan History. Natural attractions included coastal scenery reminiscent of Kenting National Park and mountainous hiking routes analogous to trails in Alishan. Local cuisine reflected southern Taiwanese specialties akin to dishes popular in Kaohsiung City and Tainan City, while arts initiatives engaged venues comparable to the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.

Category:Former counties of Taiwan