Misplaced Pages

Palopo
City
City of Palopo Kota Palopo
Palace of Luwu Kingdom
Coat of arms
Motto(s): IDAMAN (Indah (Beautiful), Damai (Safe), Nyaman (Pleasant))
Location within South Sulawesi
OpenStreetMap
PalopoLocation in Sulawesi and IndonesiaShow map of SulawesiPalopoPalopo (Indonesia)Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 3°0′S 120°12′E / 3.000°S 120.200°E / -3.000; 120.200
Country	Indonesia
Region	Sulawesi
Province	South Sulawesi
Founded	c. 1620
City Status	14 July 2002
Government
• Mayor	Judas Amir
• Vice Mayor	Rahmat Masri Bandaso
Area
• City	247.52 km (95.57 sq mi)
• Metro	1 km (0.4 sq mi)
Population
• City	177,526
• Density	720/km (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (Indonesia Central Time)
Area code	(+62) 471
Website	palopokota.go.id

Palopo or Kota Palopo is a city located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the second-largest city in the province. Until it acquired its autonomy on 10 April 2002, Palopo was the capital of Luwu Regency. The area of the city is 247.52 km, and it had a population of 148,033 at the 2010 Census and 184,681 at the 2020 Census, comprising 92,444 males and 92,237 females. The official estimate as at mid 2022 was 190,867 (comprising 95,562 males and 95,305 females), but the mid-2023 official estimate showed a sizeable reduction to 177,526 (comprising 88,693 males and 88,833 females).

History

Palopo was founded c. 1620, probably under the second Muslim ruler of Luwu Kingdom, Sultan Abdullah Muhiddin, who is buried at Malangke, the former palace centre of Luwu. His momental grave, which was carved with Majapahit-style floral decorations, was destroyed by Kahar Muzakkar rebels in the 1950s: nothing today remains except the location. The advantage of Palopo over the former palace centre was the potential for trade with the Toraja-speaking Seko-Rongkong valleys. The town sits at the foot of a steep, winding pass which leads into the highland regions. In the late 19th century this trade consisted primarily of coffee and slaves. Gold panned from upland rivers may also have been an attraction. Dammar was an important export in the later period.

Little is known of Palopo before the Dutch annexation of South Sulawesi in 1905. The only Western visitor to have left an account of the town was James Brooke (later Rajah of Sarawak), who described it in the 1830s as 'a miserable town, consisting of about 300 houses, scattered and dilapidated'. It is the location of the Palopo Old Mosque, South Sulawesi's oldest mosque. Built from blocks of white coral, with a three-tiered roof representing the ancient Austronesian cosmos, the Mesjid Jami' is said to have been built during the reign of Sultan Abdullah. It has a 19th-century dedicatory inscription behind one of its doors, presumably reflecting a restoration. The royal graveyard lies to the north at Lokkoe and contains pyramidical stone mausolea in which lie the remains of Luwu's 17th to 20th-century rulers.

Administrative districts

Palopo City is divided into nine Districts (Kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of urban villages (kelurahan) in each district, and its post code.

Notes: (a) except for the kelurahan of Takkalala, which has a post code of 91926. (b) except for the kelurahan of Mawa, which has a post code of 91925. (c) except for the kelurahan of Battang, which has a post code of 91958.

Climate

Palopo has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.

References

1. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kota Palopo Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7373)
2. ^ Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kota Palopo Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7373)
5. Van Lijf, J.M. 1953. 'Korte mededelingen.' Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 109:379-81.
6. Braam Morris, D.F. van. 1889. 'Het landschap Loewoe.' Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 32: 497-555; Zerner, C. 1981. 'Signs of the spirits, signature of the smith: Iron forging in Tana Toraja.' Indonesia 31: 89-112
7. Caldwell, I. 1994. ‘Report on fieldwork.' Baruga 10:16-18.
8. Brooke, J. 1848. Narrative of events in Borneo and Celebes down to the occupation of Labuan. From the Journals of James Brooke, Esq. Rajah of Sarawak and Governor of Labuan by Captain Rodney Mundy. London: John Murray
9. "Climate: Palopo". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 19 November 2020.

v t e Regencies and cities of South Sulawesi
Capital: Makassar
Regencies	Bantaeng Barru Bone Bulukumba Enrekang Gowa Jeneponto Luwu East Luwu North Luwu Maros Pangkajene and Islands Pinrang Selayar Islands Sinjai Sidenreng Rappang Soppeng Takalar Tana Toraja Wajo North Toraja
Cities	Makassar Palopo Parepare
See also: List of regencies and cities of Indonesia

• Palopo