Semarang
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Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the capital of the province of Central Java (Jawa Tengah). It has an area of 373,67 km² and approximately 1.5 million people making it the Indonesia's fifth largest city . Semarang is located at 6°58′ S 110°25′ E (http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=6_58_S_110_25_E_). A major port during the Dutch colonial era, the city is known in Indonesia for its large ethnically Chinese population. The name of the city, Semarang, may have originated from the concatenation of the words "asem" (tamarind) and "arang".
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History
Semarang's history dates back to the ninth century, when it was known as Bergota. By the end of fifteenth century, an Arab mullah with the name of Kyai Pandan Arang founded a village and an Islamic boarding school in this place. On 2 May 1547, after consulting Sunan Kalijaga, Sultan Hadiwijaya of Pajang declared Kyai Pandan Arang the first bupati (town leader) of Semarang, thus culturally and politically, on this day Semarang was born.
In 1678, Sunan Amangkurat II promised to give control of Semarang to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a part of a debt payment. In 1682, the Semarang state was founded by the Dutch colonial power. On 5 October 1705 after years of occupations, Semarang officially became a VOC city when Susuhunan Pakubuwono I made a deal to give extensive trade rights to the VOC in exchange of wiping out Mataram's debt. VOC and later the Dutch East Indies government established tobacco plantations in the region, and built roads and railroads, making Semarang an important colonial trading centre.
The Japanese military occupied the city, along with the rest of Java, in 1942 during Pacific War of World War II. During that time, Semarang was headed by a military governor (Shico) from Japan and two vice governors (Fuku Shico), one from Japan and one from local. After Indonesian independence in 1945, Semarang became the capital of Central Java province.
Administration
The city of Semarang divided into 16 districts of Kecamatan and 177 sub-districts of Kelurahan. The 16 districts of Kecamatan are: Semarang Barat, Semarang Timur, Semarang Tengah, Semarang Utara, Semarang Selatan, Candisari, Gajahmungkur, Gayamsari, Pedurungan, Genuk, Tembalang, Banyumanik, Gunungpati, Mijen, Ngaliyan, and Tugu.
A Bupati used to be the head of government in Semarang until 1906. After 1906, the city of Semarang was headed by a Walikota (Mayor).
The list of Mayor of Semarang after Indonesian independence:
- Moch.lchsan
- Koesoebiyono (1949 - 1 Jul 1951)
- RM. Hadisoebeno Sosrowardoyo (1 Jul 1951 - 1 Janu 1958)
- Abdulmadjid Djojoadiningrat (7 Jan 1958 - 1 Jan 1960)
- RM Soebagyono Tjondrokoesoemo (1 Jan 1961 - 26 Apr 1964)
- Wuryanto (25 Apr 1964 - 1 Sep 1966)
- Soeparno (1 Sep 1966 - 6 Mar 1967)
- R.Warsito Soegiarto (6 Mar 1967 - 2 Jan 1973)
- Hadijanto (2 Jan 1973 - 15 Jan 1980)
- H. Imam Soeparto Tjakrajoeda (15 Jan 1980 - 19 Jan 1990)
- H. Soetrisno Suharto (19 Jan 1990 - 19 Jan 2000)
- H. Sukawi Sutarip (19 Jan 2000 - present)
Geography
Semarang is located on the north coast of Java. The northern part of the city is lying across the plain coast while the southern part of the city is on hilly side upward to the town of Ungaran.
Culture
The people of Semarang is predominantly Javanese, with other comes from many regions in Indonesia. The city is known in Indonesia for its large ethnically Chinese population. The major language spoken is Indonesian and Javanese.
Education
Semarang is home to several universities:
- Universitas Diponegoro
- Akademi Kepolisian (National Police Academy)
- Universitas Sultan Agung
- Universitas Tujuh Belas Agustus
Tourism
Interesting places in Semarang:
- Tugu Muda (Youth Monument)
- Lawang Sewu (Thousand Gates)
- Simpang Lima: A five-junction roundabout with a park in the middle.
External links
- City of Semarang (http://www.semarang.go.id/)—Official website, in Indonesian
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