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As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 98,296 and population density of 748.81 persons per km². Its total area is 131.27 km².

History

Narita is known to have been inhabited since prehistoric times; rice farming began in the area around 100 BCE. As the city is located roughly equidistant from the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay, around a number of small rivers, it was a natural political and commercial center for the region.

Urbanization of the area began during the Nara period. Narita-san Temple was founded in 940 CE.

Narita was incorporated as a town in 1889, and Narita City was founded on March 31, 1954. Growth in the area began in earnest in 1966, when Prime Minister Eisaku Sato laid out the plan for Narita International Airport. The development of the airport and accompanying access to central Tokyo led to widespread residential, commercial and industrial development in the city.

Narita was once part of Inba District until March 31, 1954. The city annexed the towns of Taiei and Shimofusa from Katori District on March 27, 2006 and the city now expanded into the Katori District areas. (In the same day in Chiba Prefecture, the cities of Katori, Sanmu, and the town of Yokoshibahikari in Sanbu District were created by the mergers)

The enlarged Narita now has an estimated population of 121,214. The total area is now 213.84km², as of May 1, 2006.

Central Narita

Central Narita (locally known as 町中 machinaka) is roughly defined as the area between Narita Station, Keisei Narita Station and the Narita-san Temple. The main road in central Narita is Omotesandō (表参道), which is lined with about 150 small shops and has been extensively renovated in recent years; it is widely regarded as one of the best "traditional" city streets in Japan.

Narita New Town

Narita New Town is a planned residential area to the west of Narita Station. It has 16,000 homes with a total population of 60,000. The area was designed in 1968 based on the new towns surrounding London, England, and now houses most of the city's population. Although most residents of the New Town initially commuted to Tokyo or Chiba City for work, many now commute to cities in northwestern Chiba, and a number of businesspeople in central Narita have also moved into the New Town.

Kozunomori