Dairi Regency is an inland regency on the western shore of Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia. The regency was created on 23 September 1964 from what were previously the north-western districts of North Tapanuli Regency; however the southern districts of this new regency were in turn split off on 25 February 2003 to form the new Pakpak Bharat Regency. The reduced regency covers an area of 1,927.80 square kilometres (744.33 sq mi) and it had a population of 269,848 people at the 2010 Census[2] and 308,764 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 324,747 - comprising 162,928 males and 161,819 females.[1] Its administrative seat is at the town of Sidikalang.

Dairi Regency
Regent's office of Dairi Regency
Regent's office of Dairi Regency
Coat of arms of Dairi Regency
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceNorth Sumatra
Regency seatSidikalang
Government
 • RegentEddy Keleng Ate Berutu
 • Vice RegentJimmy Andrea Lukita Sihombing
 • Chairman of Council of RepresentativesSabam Sibarani (Golkar)
 • Vice Chairmen of Council of RepresentativesAlvensius Tondang (PDI-P) and Wanseptember Situmorang (Partai Demokrat)
Area
 • Total1,927.8 km2 (744.3 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total324,747
 • Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (WIB)
Websitewww.dairikab.go.id

Geography and climate

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Welcome gate to Dairi Regency

Dairi is mostly hills and mountains, averaging 700 to 1,250 metres (2,300 to 4,100 ft) above sea level. It has a tropical rainforest climate, with the heaviest rainfall between September and May.[4]

Demographics

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Population pyramid for Dairi as of 2008; males are in blue and females are in red

A 2008 estimate by the Dairi government put Dairi's population at 271,983, with a sex ratio of 99.43. Of the population, 39.96% is under the age of 14.[5] At the 2010 Census the population was 269,848,[2] at the 2020 Census it was 308,764[3] and for mid 2023 it was estimated as 324,747.[1]

Bordering territories

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The Dairi Regency is bordered to the north by Karo Regency, to the east by Samosir Regency and Lake Toba, to the south by Pakpak Bharat Regency, and to the west by Aceh Province (Southeast Aceh Regency and the City of Subulussalam).

Administrative districts

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Dairi Regency is divided into fifteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and the 2020 Census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 161 rural desa and 8 urban kelurahan), and its post code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estim.
mid 2023
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
12.11.01 Sidikalang 70.67 48,646 53,433 56,498 Sidikalang 11 (a) 22211
-22219
12.11.13 Berampu 40.85 7,908 9,031 9,396 Berampu 5 22251
12.11.15 Sitinjo 53.15 11,235 14,429 15,211 Sitinjo 4 (b) 22219
12.11.10 Parbuluan 235.40 20,637 25,236 27,203 Sigalingging 11 22282
12.11.02 Sumbul 192.58 39,365 45,606 47,224 Sumbul 19 (c) 22284
12.11.14 Silahisabungan 75.62 4,471 5,242 5,811 Silalahi 5 22280
12.11.05 Silima Pungga-Pungga 88.35 12,651 14,448 15,318 Parongil 16 (d) 22262
12.11.11 Lae Parira 42.75 13,567 14,526 15,442 Lae Parira 9 22281
12.11.04 Siempat Nempu 60.15 17,979 20,241 21,091 Buntu Raja 13 22261
12.11.07 Siempat Nempu Hulu
(Upper Siempat Nempu)
93.93 17,663 20,183 20,993 Silumboyah 12 22254
12.11.08 Siempat Nempu Hilir
(Lower Siempat Nempu)
105.62 10,423 11,746 12,346 Sopobutar 10 22263
12.11.03 Tigalingga 197.00 21,444 24,428 25,333 Tigalingga 14 22252
12.11.12 Gunung
Sitember
77.00 9,090 10,714 11,081 Gunung
Sitember
8 22250
12.11.09 Pegagan Hilir
(Lower Pegagan)
155.33 14,740 16,740 17,933 Tiga Baru 13 22283
12.11.06 Tanah Pinem 439.40 20,234 22,761 23,867 Kuta Buluh 19 22253
Totals 1,927.80 269,848 308,764 324,747 Sidikalang 169

Notes: (a) comprising 5 kelurahan (Batang Beruh, Bintang Hulu, Kuta Gambir, Sidiangkat and Sidikalang Kota) and 6 desa.
(b) including the kelurahan of Panji Dabutar. (c) including the kelurahan of Pegagan Julu I. (d) including the kelurahan of Parongil.

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms of Dairi has many connotations. Indonesia's date of independence, 17 August 1945, is indicated by the 17-budded cotton plant on the left side, 8 rattan branches in the center, and 45 seeds of rice on a stalk to the right. The shield in the centre is divided into five, four parts indicating different cash crops important to the area (benzoin resin, coffee, tobacco and patchouli), while the fifth shows a traditional Pakpak Batak house; the house signifies protection. The five point star in the top center signifies the Pancasila-respecting habits of the Dairi people, while the mountains represent tranquility and the chains represent gotong royong, or cooperating and collaborating. The central sharpened bamboo spear represents the Dairi people's struggle for independence.[6]

History

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An early Dutch settlement in Dairi

Prior to the arrival of the Dutch East India Company, the people of what is now Dairi lived in traditional adat-regulated communities, with unelected local leaders. After the arrival of the Dutch they established an ethnic-Dutch controleur to be in charge of the Dairi onder afdeling, as well as a native Indonesian demang, or lieutenant. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia beginning in 1942, the Dairi area was also occupied; during this time, local youths were used as forced labour to build the 65 kilometres (40 mi) long Sidikalang road and the Dutch were removed.[7]

After Indonesia's independence, the residents attempted to build a foundation for a new government. However, after the Dutch army recaptured nearby East Sumatra in 1947, they chose a new leader for the Dairi area. Another leader was chosen in 1949; later that year, after the Netherlands and Indonesia signed an agreement for Indonesian independence [7]

Economy

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Farming is a large business in Dairi. Major crops in Dairi are coffee, both robusta and arabica, corn, and potatoes. Approximately 6,770 tonnes of robusta coffee are produced every year, in addition to 2,639 tonnes of arabica; corn fields take up 63% of suitable farming land.[8] Other minor trades are damar collecting, fish farming, and rattan.[9]

Since 1997, Dairi Prima Mineral have operated the Dairi mine near the Sopokomil hamlet of Longkotan [id] village[10] in the Silima Pungga-Pungga [id] subdistrict of the regency.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Dairi Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1211)
  2. ^ a b c Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ Dairi Government, Geografi.
  5. ^ Dairi Government, Demografi.
  6. ^ Dairi Government, Lambang.
  7. ^ a b Dairi Government, History.
  8. ^ North Sumatra, Dairi.
  9. ^ Dairi Government, Sosiologi.
  10. ^ Niranjan, Ajit; Nugraha, Rizki (6 February 2021). "Proposed Indonesian zinc mine 'almost certain' to collapse". DW News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  11. ^ "RESOURCES AND RESERVES, DAIRI ZINC PROJECT" (PDF). 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  12. ^ Simangunsong, Tonggo (12 January 2023). "Indonesian government accused of putting lives at risk with zinc mine permit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
Bibliography
  • "Demografi" [Demography] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Geografi" [Geography] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Kabupaten Dairi" [Dairi Regency] (in Indonesian). Government of North Sumatra. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Lambang Daerah" [Area Coat of Arms] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Sejarah" [History] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Profil Pemerintah Kabupaten Dairi" [Profile of the Dairi Regency Government] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  • "Sosiologi" [Sociology] (in Indonesian). Government of Dairi Regency. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.

3°00′00″N 99°10′00″E / 3°N 99.1667°E / 3; 99.1667