Dawn New Village Introduction
In the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by the tense cross-strait relations, the provincial government relocated from Taipei to central Taiwan to mitigate the risks associated with having the administrative center in one location. They began to develop large tracts of wasteland in central Taiwan to accommodate numerous affiliated institutions and to house employees and their families who had moved south for work. To this end, they sent personnel abroad to Europe and the United States for research and applied the insights gained to create new towns in Taiwan, planning integrated communities where offices and residences coexist. The design featured low-density development and high greenery, reminiscent of a garden city, which provided a pleasant living environment. Many of the newly established military dependents' villages from that era have since aged but continue to remain beloved spots for photography and leisurely walks. One such product of this era is the Dawn New Village. The central town planning initiative commenced with Guangfu New Village in Wufeng, followed by the construction of other public housing developments such as Zhongxing New Village, Shencha, and Chang'an New Village. The Dawn New Village, covering an area of 41 hectares, was completed in 1975 and was the last of these developments, with a total of over 1,300 households. It inherited successful experiences from earlier projects, including an independent sewage treatment system design, and addressed various issues faced by previous developments. Unlike earlier military dependents' housing, which was publicly owned, residents of Dawn New Village own their land and houses, thereby avoiding future relocation and demolition issues related to government land readjustment. In addition to its lush natural environment, this community is equipped with complete public facilities and a sound living infrastructure, including a community center, a market, and schools ranging from preschool to secondary education, making it even more attractive for many people wishing to move and live there.
