Sibolga

Sibolga (formerly sometimes Siboga) is a city and a port located in the natural harbour of Sibolga Bay on the west coast of North Sumatra province, in Indonesia.

Sibolga

(Kota Sibolga)
City
Other transcription(s)
 • Batakᯘᯪᯅᯬᯞ᯲ᯎ
Front view of Sibolga market in Sibolga
Seal
Location within North Sumatra
Sibolga
Location in Sumatra and Indonesia
Sibolga
Sibolga (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 1°44′24″N 98°46′48″E
Country Indonesia
Province North Sumatra
Government
 • MayorSyarfi Hutauruk
 • Vice MayorEdi Polo Sitanggang
 • Chairman of City's Council of RepresentativesAkhmad Syukri Nazry Penarik (Nasdem)
 • Vice Chairman of City's Council of RepresentativesJamil Zeb Tumori (Golkar)
Area
 • Total10.77 km2 (4.16 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total87,313
 • Density8,100/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
 [1]
Time zoneUTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Area code(+62) 631
Websitewww.sibolgakota.go.id

It is located on the western side of North Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean and is a transit harbour to the Nias island which was hard hit during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Sibolga is also a semi-enclave within Central Tapanuli Regency, as Sibolga borders with Central Tapanuli Regency in the north, east, and south, while it borders with Mentawai Strait in the west.

The City has an area of 10.77 km2 and had a population of 84,444 at the 2010 Census; the latest estimate (as at mid 2018) is 87,313.

Administration

The city is divided into four districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and 2010 Census populations,[2] together with the estimated populations in mid 2018:[3] The table also includes the number of administrative villages (desa and kelurahan) in each district and its post codes.

Name *Area
in
km2		Pop'n
Census
2010[2]		Pop'n
Est.
mid
2018[4]		No.
of
vill.		Post
codes
Sibolga Utara
(North Sibolga)		3.3319,97021,815522511
-22514
Sibolga Kota
(Sibolga Town)		2.7314,30414,228422521
-22524
Sibolga Selatan
(South Sibolga)		3.1430,08230,681422533
-22538
Sibolga Sambas1.5720,12520,589422531
-22535
Totals10.7784,44487,31317

History
Fort Tapanuli on Poncan Ketek Island in 1878

Poncan Ketek Island (Small Poncan Island) in Sibolga Bay was once the location of a fort. British, Dutch, French and American traders passed through here. It is thought Stamford Raffles passed through before he moved to Bengkulu in south Sumatra. From Bengkulu Raffles, after relinquishing the Port to the Dutch, established the trade port that became Singapore.

At some point between 1890-1920 there was a major fire in the city, which was presumably mostly built from wood from the surrounding mountains (shown partly denuded in the 1928 panorama).

Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890-1920)
Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890-1920)
Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890-1920)
Panorama of Sibolga, 1928. Unknown (presumably Dutch) photographer. The major settlement of Tapanoeli, on the west coast of Sumatra. The road through the mountains turns left towards Tarodoeng. This road rises to 1100 meters and then drops to 926 meters at Tarodoeng. In the middle of the foreground is the barracks of the Armed Police, the Inspector's Office, the Water Office, and the Notary Office. In the background right are the European and native commercial districts. (The native commercial district notably included a Chinese quarter.)
Entrance gate to Sibolga's Chinese Quarter, 1920

A presumably makeshift prison described as a "civilian camp" was set up on Taroetoengweg, in the city center, from 16 March to 4 May 1942. It first housed 10 "European" men from in and around Sibolga, who were then joined on April 24 by another 10 men from the island of Nias. On May 4 they were taken to the Native Secondary School for Boys in Pearadja (Taroetoeng), which is located up in the mountains behind Sibolga.[5]

Transport and tourism
Government bus descending Sibolga's mountain road, June 1919

Buses are available from Medan, Parapat and Padang. Ferries from here service the outlying islands to the west, Simeulue and Nias, as well as the rest of Indonesia. Sibolga is a step off point for trade and passenger boats to Nias Island. The local airport is Ferdinand Lumban Tobing Airport.

Climate

This area has a tropical rainforest climate with no real dry season. Regions with this climate typically feature tropical rainforests, and are designated by the Köppen climate classification as "Af".[6]

Climate data for Sibolga
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31
(87)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(87)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(87)		 30
(86)		 29
(85)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(87)		 31
(87)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(74)		 23
(74)		 23
(74)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(74)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(74)		 23
(73)		 23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 300
(11.8)		 280
(11.0)		 390
(15.4)		 420
(16.5)		 310
(12.2)		 230
(9.1)		 280
(11.0)		 350
(13.8)		 370
(14.6)		 490
(19.3)		 450
(17.7)		 420
(16.5)		 4,290
(168.9)
Source: Weatherbase [7]

References
  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
  5. "Search in this website - East Indies camp archives".
  6. "Sibolga, Indonesia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  7. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on October 5, 2013.

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