Simalungun Regency is a regency in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia. Its seat was formerly at Pematangsiantar, but this city was under Law No.15 of 10 March 1986 was separated from the Regency and made into an independent city (kota), although it remains geographically surrounded by the regency, whose new administrative seat is at Raya, while the regency's two most populous districts are Bandar and Siantar. The regency now covers an area of 4,372.5 square kilometres, and at the 2010 census it had a population of 817,720;[2] at the 2020 Census this had risen to 990,246, of whom 497,314 were males and 492,932 were females;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,035,920 - comprising 521,262 males and 514,658 females.[1]

Simalungun Regency
(Kabupaten Simalungun)
Coat of arms of Simalungun Regency
Motto(s): 
Habonaron Do Bona
(Truth is the Foundation of Everything)
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceNorth Sumatra
Regency seatRaya
Government
 • RegentJopinus Ramli Saragih
 • Vice RegentAmran Sinaga
 • Chairman of Regency's Council of RepresentativesTimbul Jaya Hamonangan Sibarani (Golkar)
 • Vice Chairmen of Regency's Council of RepresentativesSamrin Girsang (PDI-P), Elias Barus (Partai Demokrat) and Sastra Joyo Sirait (Gerindra)
Area
 • Total
4,372.5 km2 (1,688.2 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total
1,035,920
 • Density240/km2 (610/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (WIB)
Websitewww.simalungunkab.go.id

Demography

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The principal group of inhabitants of the Regency (and of Pematangsiantar city, an enclave within the regency) are the Simalungun people, a sub-group of the Batak people. Their language (Simalungun language) is an Austronesian language.

Regent

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The regent of Simalungun is Radiapoh Hasiholan Sinaga, SH, who was elected as Regent of Simalungun on Pilkada (election of regional head) 2020, and took office on 21 April 2021.

Adjoining administrative territories

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Administrative districts

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The regency in 2010 was divided administratively into thirty-one districts (kecamatan), but in 2017 a 32nd district - Dolog Masagal - was created. These are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and 2020 Census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 386 rural desa and 27 urban kelurahan), and its post code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Admin
centre
No. of
villages
Post
code
12.08.25 Silimakuta 74.16 13,611 17,479 18,590 Saribu Dolok 7 (a) 21169
12.08.31 Pematang Silimakuta 79.68 10,334 13,390 14,278 Tiga Raja 10 21167
12.08.14 Purba 172.71 21,830 27,536 29,134 Tiga Runggu 14 (a) 21166
12.08.15 Haranggaol Horison 40.97 4,994 7,041 7,694 Haranggaol 5 (a) 21177
12.08.20 Dolok Pardamean 67.90 16,008 15,136 15,732 Dolok Pardamean 11 21163
12.08.09 Sidamanik 80.88 26,953 30,853 31,702 Sari Matondang 15 (a) 21171
12.08.10 Pematang Sidamanik 137.80 16,283 19,716 20,614 Sait Buttu Saribu 10 (a) 21188
12.08.16 Girsang Sipangan Bolon 129.89 14,325 17,941 18,942 Parapat 6 (b) 21174
12.08.11 Tanah Jawa 174.33 45,568 54,900 56,957 Pematang Tanah Jawa 20 (a) 21181
12.08.12 Hatonduhan 336.26 21,140 26,632 28,167 Buntu Bayu 9 21178
12.08.13 Dolok Panribuan 148.62 17,947 22,018 23,109 Tiga Dolok 15 21173
12.08.06 Jorlong Hataran 93.70 15,316 19,154 20,215 Tiga Balata 8 (a) 21172
12.08.04 Panei 77.96 21,425 28,326 30,382 Panei 17 (a) 21161
12.08.05 Panombean Panei 73.74 19,193 24,993 26,689 Pematang Panombean 11 21165
12.08.29 Raya 261.56 30,876 30,150 31,591 Pematan Raya 17 (c) 21160
12.08.32 Dolog Masagal 105.77 (d) 13,406 14,694 Bah Bolon 10 21164
12.08.26 Dolok Silau 302.66 13,716 17,696 18,846 Saran Padang 14 21168
12.08.27 Silau Kahean 228.74 17,000 19,477 20,040 Negeri Dolok 16 21157
12.08.07 Raya Kahean 204.89 17,398 21,583 22,725 Sindar Raya 14 (a) 21156
12.08.28 Tapian Dolok 119.89 38,034 45,032 46,778 Sinaksak 11 (a) 21154
12.08.17 Dolok Batu Nanggar 106.91 39,364 45,659 47,147 Serbelawan 16 (e) 21155
12.08.01 Siantar 73.99 62,916 73,536 76,101 Dolok Marlawan 17 21151
12.08.02 Gunung Malela 96.74 32,676 41,189 43,571 Dolok Malela 16 21175
12.08.03 Gunung Maligas 51.39 26,173 33,734 35,916 Silau Bayu 9 21176
12.08.18 Huta Bayu Raja 191.43 29,135 35,426 37,085 Hutabayu 16 (a) 21182
12.08.19 Jawa Maraja Bah Jambi 38.97 19,951 22,892 23,564 Jawa Maraja 8 21153
12.08.21 Pematang Bandar 88.16 31,324 38,688 40,684 Pematang Bandar 13 (f) 21186
12.08.22 Bandar Huluan 107.33 25,738 29,484 30,335 Naga Jaya I 10 21184
12.08.23 Bandar 100.69 63,584 79,006 83,226 Perdagangan 16 (g) 21162
- 21184
12.08.24 Bandar Masilam 91.22 24,316 30,015 31,558 Bandar Masilam 10 21185
12.08.08 Bosar Maligas 285.43 38,970 43,355 44,229 Bosar Maligas 17 (a) 21183
12.08.30 Ujung Padang 228.49 40,522 44,803 45,624 Ujung Padang 20 (a) 21187
Totals 4,372.50 817,720 990,246 1,035,920 Raya 413

Note: (a) including one kelurahan. (b) comprises 3 kelurahan (Girsang, Parapat and Tiga Raja) and 3 desa.
(c) comprises 5 kelurahan (Baringin Raya, Dalig Raya, Merek Raya, Pematang Raya and Sondi Raya) and 12 desa.
(d) The 2010 population of the new Dolog Masagal District is included in the figure for Raya District, from which it was cut out in 2017.
(e) includes 2 kelurahan - Aman Sari and Serbelawan. (f) includes 2 kelurahan - Kerasaan I and Pematang Bandar.
(g) includes 2 kelurahan - Perdagangan I and Perdagangan III.

Six southern districts border directly on the north coast of Lake Toba; from west to east, these are Pematang Silimakuta, Silimakuta, Haranggaol Horison, Dolok Pardamean, Pematang Sidamanik, and Girsang Sipangan Bolon.

Culture

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Dayang Bandir and Sandean Raja is a folk story from Simalungun.

Tourism

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White Crater

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Local people mention it as Bukit Kapur Tinggi Raja, but some people have also called it "Kawah Putih" (White Crater), the same name as Kawah Putih in West Java. The crater is located in Dolok Tinggi Raja Village, 90 kilometres from Medan or 3 to 4 hours drive by motorcycle on the route Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Galang-Bangun Purba-Dolok Tinggi Raja.[4]

Parapat

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Parapat is a small town located on the shore of Lake Toba. This place is known for tourism, and ferry services to Samosir Island are also available.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Simalungun Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1208)
  2. ^ a b Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ Reza Fahlevi. "Tidak Hanya Bandung, Kawah Putih Juga Ada di Simalungun". Retrieved September 14, 2014.

2°54′00″N 99°00′00″E / 2.9000°N 99.0000°E / 2.9000; 99.0000