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 km2, and it had a population of 148,033 at the 2010 Census[2] and 184,681 at the 2020 Census,[3] 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),[4] but the mid-2023 official estimate showed a sizeable reduction to 177,526 (comprising 88,693 males and 88,833 females).[1]
History
17th-century Palopo Old Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia.
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.[5] 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.[6] Gold panned from upland rivers may also have been an attraction. Dammar was an important export in the later period.[7]
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'.[8] 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[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 urban villages (kelurahan) in each district, and its post code.
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 kelurahan
Post code(s)
73.73.03
Wara Selatan (South Wara)
10.66
10,124
18,679
18,880
Songka
4
91959 (a)
73.73.07
Sendana
37.09
5,732
7,381
7,599
Sendana
4
91959 (b)
73.73.01
Wara
11.49
31,024
31,539
29,389
Dangerakko
6
91921 - 91923
73.73.05
Wara Timur (East Wara)
12.08
30,997
38,344
36,840
Malatunrung
7
91921
73.73.08
Mungkajang
53.80
6,981
10,062
9,571
Mungkajang
4
91924 - 91925
73.73.02
Wara Utara (North Wara)
10.58
19,011
20,645
19,599
Salubulo
6
91911 - 91914
73.73.09
Bara
23.35
22,959
30,660
28,733
Temmalebba
5
91914
73.73.04
Telluwanua
34.34
11,701
15,887
16,081
Maroangin
7
91958
73.73.06
Wara Barat (West Wara)
54.13
9,403
11,484
10,834
Tomarundung
5
91921 (c)
Totals
247.52
148,033
184,681
177,526
48
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.
^Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kota Palopo Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7373)
^Van Lijf, J.M. 1953. 'Korte mededelingen.' Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 109:379-81.
^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
^Caldwell, I. 1994. ‘Report on fieldwork.' Baruga 10:16-18.
^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
