North Padang Lawas Regency

North Padang Lawas (Padang Lawas Utara) is a regency in North Sumatra province of Indonesia. It has an area of 3,918.05 km², and had a population of 223,049 at the 2010 Census;[2] the latest estimate (as at mid 2019) is 272,713.[3] Its administrative seat is Gunung Tua.

North Padang Lawas Regency (Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara)
Regency
Coat of arms
Country	Indonesia
Province	North Sumatra
Regency seat	Gunung Tua
Government
• Regent	Andar Amin Harahap
• Vice Regent	Hariro Harahap
• Chairman of Council of Representatives	Mukhlis Harahap (Golkar)
• Vice Chairmen of Council of Representatives	Abdul Gafur Simanjuntak (Gerindra) and Basri Harahap (Partai Demokrat)
Area
• Total	3,918.05 km^2 (1,512.77 sq mi)
Population  (2019 Estimate)[1]
• Total	272,713
• Density	70/km^2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Website	padanglawasutarakab.go.id

Administration

At the 2010 Census, the regency was divided into nine districts (kecamatan). Subsequently, three additional districts (Padang Bolak Tenggara, Ujung Batu and Halongonan Timur) have been created by the division of existing districts. The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their 2010 Census population,[4] together with the estimated populations in mid 2019:[5]

Name	Area in km^2	Pop'n Census 2010[4]	Pop'n Estimate mid 2019[6]
Batang Onang	485.00	12,790	14,489
Padang Bolak Julu	196.44	9,972	11,172
Portibi	246.13	23,228	25,825
Padang Bolak	699.06	58,560	52,750
Padang Bolak Tenggara (Southeast Padang Bolak)	94.93	^(a)	12,077
Simangambat	429.42	46,769	47,006
Ujung Batu	269.62	^(b)	12,968
Halongonan	410.27	29,058	22,780
Halongonan Timur (East Halongonan)	181.33	^(c)	21,959
Dolok	525.27	22,573	25,852
Dolok Sigompulon	262.56	15,610	19,935
Hulu Sihapas	39.05	4,683	5,900
Totals	3,918.05	226,807	272,713

Notes:
(a) The 2010 population of Padang Bolak District is included in the figure for Padang Bolak District, from which it was split.
(b) The 2010 population of Ujung Batu District is included in the figure for Simangambat District, from which it was split.
(c) The 2010 population of Halongonan Timur District is included in the figure for Halongonan District, from which it was split.

Archaeology

Bahal I temple at Bahal, Portibi district, North Padang Lawas

The Padang Lawas archaeological site is partly located in the regency. The site covers approximately 1,500 km², encompassing the kecamatan (districts) of Portibi and Padang Bolak in this regency, and Barumun and Barumun Tengah in the Padang Lawas Regency. Hindu-Buddhist remains are found on the site, including structures called biaro (from Sanskrit vihara, meaning "temple" or "monastery").

The village of Batu Gana in Padang Bolak Julu district is the location of a burial site consisting of a megalithic structure.

In the village of Padang Bujur in the same district, one can also find megalithic remains and what seems to be the base for a padmasana.

Other megalithic remains are found at Aek Korsik and Aek Tolong Huta, also in the Padang Bolak district.

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
4. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
5. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.

• Simanjuntak, Truman, M. Hisyam, Bagyo Prasetyo, Titi Surti Nastiti (éds.), Archaeology: Indonesian perspective : R.P. Soejono's festschrift, LIPI, Jakarta, 2006, ISBN 979-26-2499-6