Padangsidimpuan

關於Padangsidimpuan

Padangsidimpuan (also known as Padang Sidimpuan) is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and the former capital of South Tapanuli Regency, which surrounds the city. It covers an area of 159.28 km2 and had a population of 178,818 according to the 2000 Census. This increased to 191,554 in the 2010 Census and 225,105 in the 2020 Census. The official estimate as of mid 2025 was 243,843, comprising 124,153 males and 119,690 females.

Padangsidimpuan City is located 448 km from the provincial capital, Medan, and is situated in the southwestern most part of North Sumatra Province.

=== Etymology and Dutch colonial rule ===

Around 1700, Padangsidimpuan was a small hamlet frequently visited by traders as a resting place. It was called "Padang Na Dimpu" in the Angkola language, where Padang means "expanse" or "wide area," na means "in," and dimpu means "high." Thus, the name can be interpreted as "a wide expanse in a high place." In ancient times, this area served as a stopover for traders from various regions, including fish and salt traders traveling the routes of Sibolga–Padangsidempuan–Panyabungan and Padang Bolak (North Padang Lawas)–Padangsidimpuan–Sibolga.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.