Human activity in Dingyuan County dates back to the Neolithic period, as shown by the Shaojia site in Guanshan Township and the Houjiazhai site in Qilitang Township. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area around Dingyuan County was part of the state of Chu. After the Qin dynasty unified the six states, Yinling and Dongcheng counties were established in what is now Dingyuan, both under the administration of Jiujiang County.[4]
In the Western Han dynasty, the state of Quyang Hou was added to the present-day Dingyuan region, with the three administrative divisions still under Jiujiang's jurisdiction. During the Wang Mang period, the names of Dongcheng, Yinling, and Quyang Houguo were briefly changed. In the Eastern Han dynasty, the original names from the Western Han period were restored, and Quyang Houguo was renamed West Quyang County. In 72 AD, during the fifteenth year of the Yongping reign, Dongcheng County was transferred to Xiapi, Xuzhou's jurisdiction. The counties of Dongcheng and Yinling were abolished during the Three Kingdoms Wei period but later reestablished under Huainan County in the Western Jin dynasty. The Eastern Jin dynasty continued the administrative structure of the Western Jin.[4]
Frequent wars during the Southern and Northern Dynasties led to constant changes in control over the area of present-day Dingyuan County. Initially under the Liu Song dynasty, Dongcheng County was later occupied by the Northern Wei. During the Southern Qi period, Machu County was added to the present Dingyuan region. In 504 AD, Dongcheng County was renamed "Dingyuan," first as a county and later downgraded. The name “Dingyuan” symbolized stabilizing borders and reclaiming distant lands. The area was later recaptured by the Northern Wei in 510 AD, and An Prefecture was established. In 524 AD, General Cao Shizong of Dingyuan merged the counties of Xiquyang, Yinling, and Dongcheng into Dingyuan County. In 540 AD, Southern Liang established Anzhou here, overseeing Dingyuan and Linhao counties. Following Northern Wei's capture, the area was briefly named Xipei County before being returned to the South during the Chen dynasty in 573 AD. In 580 AD, the Northern Qi took control and established Guang'an County, which was later administered by the Sui dynasty.[4]
Under the Sui dynasty, Guang'an County was renamed Linhao County, with its seat in former Dongcheng County. In the Tang dynasty, Linhao County became Dingyuan County. In 745 AD, during the fourth year of the Tianbao reign, Dingyuan County relocated its seat to Dingcheng, where it has remained since. During the Five dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the area was under the jurisdiction of the Southern Tang and Later Zhou dynasties. Throughout the Song-Jin wars, control of the region shifted frequently, but it ultimately remained under Southern Song authority. Despite frequent changes in governance until the Republic of China period, the establishment of Dingyuan County remained consistent.[4]
On January 18, 1949, Dingyuan was fell under Chu County Prefecture before being merged with Bengbu Prefecture. In 1961, it returned to Chu County Prefecture, the predecessor of present-day Chuzhou City.[4]
Administrative Divisions
Dingyuan County is divided into 16 towns, 5 townships, 1 ethnic township and 3 others.
12行政规划[Plan of Administrative Divisions] (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 15 May 2019. 国土面积2998平方公里，{...}辖22个乡镇，{...}所辖22个乡镇分别为：定城镇、炉桥镇、张桥镇、池河镇、蒋集镇、朱湾镇、七里塘乡、能仁乡、二龙乡、连江镇、仓镇、界牌集镇、拂晓乡、西卅店镇、范岗乡、严桥乡、永康镇、桑涧镇、三和集镇、藕塘镇、大桥镇、吴圩镇。
12定远县历史沿革[Dingyuan County Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 全县面积2892平方千米{...}2010年第六次人口普查，定远县常住总人口779174人，其中，定城镇174883人，炉桥镇74919人，永康镇44313人，吴圩镇49158人，朱湾镇16473人，张桥镇45187人，藕塘镇39901人，池河镇40965人，连江镇25626人，界牌集镇20850人，仓镇22143人，三和集镇28048人，西卅店镇28947人，桑涧镇28692人，蒋集镇21738人，大桥镇20453人，严桥乡17454人，拂晓乡17024人，能仁乡17911人，七里塘乡22399人，二龙回族乡10238人，范岗乡11852人。
