田中央為臺灣相當普遍的地名，清代所發生的民變，官民兩軍的對峙與攻略，常涉及田中央一地。惟田中央地名如此之眾，各戰役所指田中央不盡相同。道光十一年的《彰化縣志》，其保甲中共列了五個田中央，分屬不同的保。今日彰化縣田中鎮的前身田中央，乃道光三十年，其鄰近的沙仔崙莊發生水災，部分人口遷移至田中央所形成的聚落，後來更因沙仔崙發生水災和火災，導致剩餘人口再遷住田中央。日治時代田中央的發展有了轉變的契機，因為縱貫鐵路經過田中央，並在田中央設站，以及田中央有輕便鐵道的設置，聯絡北斗等村莊，使得田中央開始繁榮，大正九年的地方改正，田中央改為田中庄，昭和十五年（1940） 升格為街，奠定了田中央日後發展的基礎。從彰化縣田中鎮的歷史發展來說，日治時代田中央因為交通因素的改變，而本身也有榨油、蔬菜、鳳梨、香蕉等產業，因此得以成為鄰近鄉鎮的貨物集散地，造成此一田中央聚落有了相當不錯的發展機會，改制為田中庄以後，更確立了未來此一街莊的發展，戰後改制為田中鎮。相較於其他各處田中央，則逐漸萎縮成為地頭名，是以容易將其他各地的田中央誤解為目前的彰化縣田中鎮。

Tian-zhong-yang is a geographical name in Taiwan and it always has been mentioned in the historical documents where wars between government and the rebel occurred. However, not every Tian-zhong-yang indicates the same place. There are five different Tian-zhong-yangs in the local chronicles Zhang-hua-xian-zhi and they are located in different Bao. Nowadays one of the five Tian-zhong-yang has been changed into Tian-zhong town. In 1850, while most houses in Sha-zai-lun town were damaged in the flood, some villagers began to move to Tian-zhong-yang nearby. Consequently, Sha-zai-lun town were damaged again in the flood and then by the fire accident, survived villagers entirely moved to Tian-zhong-yang. Tian-zhong-yang town was prosperous because of the convenient transportation system constructed under the Japanese regime. 1940 onwards Tian-zhong-yang was elevated to Jie, a town degree in local administration, and continued to expand. Generally speaking, Tian-zhong town can be expanded not only because it has got the traffic construction during the Japanese Colonial period but also because it has become the main market place to supply fruits and vegetables for the neighboring villages.