Fang County

Fang County or Fangxian (simplified Chinese: 房县; traditional Chinese: 房縣; pinyin: Fáng Xiàn) is a county of northwestern Hubei province, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Shiyan City. The county spans an area of 5,110 square kilometres (1,970 mi), and has a population of 390,991 as of 2010. During the Spring and Autumn period, the region was known as Fangzhu (Chinese: 防渚; pinyin: Fángzhǔ). During the Warring States period, the area belonged to the State of Chu. The area was incorporated as Fangling County (simplified Chinese: 房陵县; traditional Chinese: 房陵縣; pinyin: Fánglíng Xiàn) during the Qin dynasty, where it belonged to the Hanzhong Commandery. In 636 CE, the area of present-day Fang County was organized as Fang Prefecture. In 1277, Fang Prefecture was changed to Fang County, which it has remained since. It was placed under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang Fu. In 1476, Xiangyang Fu was changed to Yunyang Fu.