Some said that Kaminaka-cho should merge with Obama City, which has close ties in terms of daily life and economic activities; however, many were against the merger saying Kaminaka would not capture the initiative; the majority of voters opposed the merger with Obama City in a referendum.
上中町内では生活・経済の面でもつながりが強い小浜市と合併すべきという声もあったが、小浜市と合併した場合に上中町は小浜市の一地域に過ぎず、「上中が主導権を握れない」と考える町民が多く、住民投票でも小浜市との合併は反対派が多数を占めた。