Simalungun Regency

Simalungun Regency is a regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Its seat was formerly at Pematangsiantar, but this city was in recent years 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. 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 2015 Census this had risen to 848,940; the latest official estimate (as at mid 2018) is 863,693.[3]

Simalungun Regency (Kabupaten Simalungun)
Regency
Coat of arms
Country	Indonesia
Province	North Sumatra
Regency seat	Raya
Government
• Regent	Jopinus Ramli Saragih
• Vice Regent	Amran Sinaga
• Chairman of Regency's Council of Representatives	Timbul Jaya Hamonangan Sibarani (Golkar)
• Vice Chairmen of Regency's Council of Representatives	Samrin Girsang (PDI-P), Elias Barus (Partai Demokrat) and Sastra Joyo Sirait (Gerindra)
Area
• Total	4,372.50 km^2 (1,688.23 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2018)[1]
• Total	863,693
• Density	200/km^2 (510/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Website	www.simalungunkab.go.id

Demography

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 (Simalungan language) is an Austronesian language.

Regent

The regent of Simalungun is JR Saragih, who was elected as Regent of Simalungun on Pilkada (election of regional head) 2015.

Administration

The regency in 2010 was divided administratively into thirty-one districts (kecamatan), but in 2017 a 32nd district - Dolok Masagal - was created. These are tabulated below with their areas and 2010 Census populations:[4]

Name	Area in km^2	Population Census 2010[4]	Number of villages	Post code
Silimakuta	74.16	13,611	7	21169
Pematang Silimakuta	79.68	10,334	10	21167
Purba	172.71	21,830	14	21166
Haranggaol Horison	40.97	4,994	5	21177
Dolok Pardamean	103.04	16,008	11	21163
Sidamanik	80.88	26,953	15	21171
Pematang Sidamanik	137.80	16,283	10	21188
Girsang Sipangan Bolon	129.89	14,325	6	21174
Tanah Jawa	174.33	45,568	20	21181
Hatonduhan	336.26	21,140	9	21178
Dolok Panribuan	148.62	17,947	15	21173
Jorlang Hataran	93.70	15,316	8	21172
Panei	77.96	21,425	17	21161
Panombean Panei	73.74	19,193	11	21165
Raya	331.83	30,876	17	21160
Dolog Masagal	^(a)	^(a)	10	21164
Dolok Silau	302.66	13,716	14	21168
Silau Kahean	228.74	17,000	16	21157
Raya Kahean	204.89	17,398	14	21156
Tapian Dolok	119.89	38,034	11	21154
Dolok Batu Nanggar	106.91	39,364	16	21155
Siantar	73.99	62,916	17	21151
Gunung Malela	96.74	32,676	16	21175
Gunung Maligas	51.39	26,173	9	21176
Hutabayu Raja	191.43	29,135	16	21182
Jawa Maraja Bah Jambi	38.97	19,951	8	21153
Pematang Bandar	88.16	31,324	13	21186
Bandar Huluan	107.33	25,738	10	21184
Bandar	100.69	63,584	16	21162 -21184
Bandar Masilam	91.22	24,316	10	21185
Bosar Maligas	295.88	38,970	17	21183
Ujung Padang	228.49	40,522	20	21187

Note: (a) The area and 2010 population of the new Dolog Masagal District are included in the figures for Raya District, from which it was cut out in 2017.

Tourism

White Crater

Local people mention it as Bukit Kapur Tinggi Raja, but some people also called it as Kawah Putih (White Crater) same name as Kawah Putih in West Java. The crater is located in Dolok Tinggi Raja Village, 90 kilometers from Medan or 3 to 4 hours drive by motorcycles with route Medan-Lubuk Pakam-Galang-Bangun Purba-Dolok Tinggi Raja.[5]

Parapat

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

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2019.
2. Seta,William J. Atlas Lengkap Indonesia dan Dunia (untuk SD, SMP, SMU, dan Umum). Pustaka Widyatama. p. 9. ISBN 979-610-232-3.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2019.
4. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
5. Reza Fahlevi. "Tidak Hanya Bandung, Kawah Putih Juga Ada di Simalungun". Retrieved September 14, 2014.