  is a district located in ehime prefecture, japan. as of 2004, the estimated population is 28,100 and the total area is 239.54 kmÂ². the district includes one town. *ainan ==history== * 1878 â the minamiuwa district broke off from the uwa district through meiji era land reforms. (7 villages) * february 11, 1923 â the village of mishÅ gained town status. (1 town, 6 villages) * february 11, 1923 â the village of jÅhen gained town status. (2 towns, 5 villages) * november 3, 1948 â the village of uchiumi broke up into uchiumi and minamiuchiumi, with some parts merging into jÅhen. (2 towns, 6 villages) * april 1, 1952 â the village of higashisotoumi gained town status. (3 towns, 5 villages) * september 1, 1952 â the village of midorisÅzu merged into the town of jÅhen. (3 towns, 4 villages) * october 1, 1952 â the village of nishisotoumi was renamed and gained town status to become the town of nishiumi. (4 towns, 3 villages) * september 21, 1956 â the town of higashisotoumi merged into the town of jÅhen. (3 towns, 3 villages) * september 30, 1956 â the village of minamiuchiumi merged into the town of mishÅ. (3 towns, 2 villages) * january 1, 1962 â the village of ipponmatsu gained town status. (4 towns, 1 village) * october 1, 2004 â the towns of ipponmatsu, mishÅ, jÅhen and nishiumi, and the village of uchiumi merged to form the new town of ainan. (1 town)  
Districts_in_Ehime_Prefecture