North Padang Lawas Regency

North Padang Lawas (Padang Lawas Utara, abbreviated as Paluta) is a landlocked regency in the 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] and 260,720 at the 2020 census;[3] the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 275,448.[1] North Padang Lawas Regency was created on 17 July 2007 (along with a separate Padang Lawas Regency to the south) from the eastern parts of the South Tapanuli Regency. Its administrative seat is the town of Gunung Tua.

North Padang Lawas Regency
(Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara)
Coat of arms of North Padang Lawas Regency
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceNorth Sumatra
Regency seatGunung Tua
Government
 • RegentAndar Amin Harahap
 • Vice RegentHariro Harahap
 • Chairman of Council of RepresentativesMukhlis Harahap (Golkar)
 • Vice Chairmen of Council of RepresentativesAbdul Gafur Simanjuntak (Gerindra) and Basri Harahap (Partai Demokrat)
Area
 • Total3,918.05 km2 (1,512.77 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total275,448
 • Density70/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (WIB)
Websitepadanglawasutarakab.go.id

Demographics edit

Population edit

The population of North Padang Lawas in the 2010 census results was 223,049 people[2] with a density of 57 per square kilometre, which in 2020 increased to 260,720 people with annual population growth averaging around 2.18%.[3] The official estimate as of mid-2023 was 275,448.[1] Coincidentally, both Padang Lawas Regency and North Padang Lawas Regency were estimated to have almost the same number of inhabitants in mid-2023.

Ethnic edit

The population of North Padang Lawas district is quite ethnically diverse. Overall, the majority of the population comes from the Batak Angkola people, including various Angkola Batak clans, such as Harahap, Lubis, Siregar, Nasution, Hasibuan, Daulay, Dalimunte, Hutasuhut, Batubara. In addition, Batak Toba, Nias, and Javanese are also quite numerous in North Padang Lawas.

Religion edit

Followers of religion Islam amounted to 90.40%, then Protestanism 9.21%, Catholicism at 0.38% and Buddhism around 0.01%. The Batak people of Angkola, Mandailing, Minangkabau, and Javanese, generally embrace Islam. Meanwhile, the ethnic Batak Toba, Karo, Simalungun, and Nias people, mostly embrace Christianity. Meanwhile, there are 593 mosques, 34 Protestant churches, and 1 Catholic church.

Administrative Districts edit

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 populations at the 2010 census[2] and the 2020 census,[4] together with the official estimates as of mid-2023.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 386 rural desa and 2 urban kelurahan), and its postcode.

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
12.20.07 Batang Onang 485.00 12,790 13,770 14,206 Pasar Matanggar 32 (a) 22762
12.20.05 Padang Bolak Julu 196.44 9,972 11,542 12,165 Batu Gana 23 22753
12.20.06 Portibi 246.13 23,228 27,425 29,327 Portibi Jae 36 22741
12.20.04 Padang Bolak 699.06 58,560 53,998 58,254 Pasar Gunung Tua 62 (b) 22754
12.20.10 Padang Bolak Tenggara
(Southeast Padang Bolak)
94.93 (c) 11,743 12,462 Naga Saribu 14 22751
12.20.08 Simangambat 429.42 46,769 41,167 42,932 Langkimat 21 22747
12.20.12 Ujung Batu 269.62 (d) 11,764 12,396 Ujung Batu Jae 13 22746
12.20.03 Halongonan 410.27 29,058 20,891 22,049 Hutaimbaru 33 22753
12.20.11 Halongonan Timur
(East Halongonan)
181.33 (e) 22,532 24,485 Siancimun 14 22752
12.20.02 Dolok 525.27 22,573 24,755 25,677 Pasar Sipiongot 86 22756
12.20.01 Dolok Sigompulon 262.56 15,610 16,192 16,430 Pasar Simundol 44 22757
12.20.09 Hulu Sihapas 39.05 4,683 4,941 5,065 Aek Godang 10 22740
Totals 3,918.05 223,531 260,720 275,448 Pasar Gunung Tua 388

Notes: (a) including the kelurahan of Pasar Matanggor. (b) including the kelurahan of Pasar Gunung Tua.
(c) The 2010 population of Padang Bolak Tenggara District is included in the figure for Padang Bolak District, from which it was split.
(d) The 2010 population of Ujung Batu District is included in the figure for Simangambat District, from which it was split.
(e) The 2010 population of Halongonan Timur District is included in the figure for Halongonan District, from which it was split.

Archaeology edit

 
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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220)
  2. ^ a b c Penduduk Menurut Wilayah, Daerah Perkotaan/Perdesaan, dan Jenis Kelamin, PADANG LAWAS UTARA, Tahun 2010
  3. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ Jumlah Penduduk menurut Kecamatan (Jiwa), 2000-2020 Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara.
  • 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


1°27′36″N 99°40′25″E / 1.4601°N 99.6735°E / 1.4601; 99.6735