Padang Panjang

Padang Panjang (sometimes written as Padangpanjang, and spelt as Padang Pandjang in Dutch East Indies era, lit. 'long field', Jawi: ڤادڠ ڤنجڠ‎), is a city located in the cool highlands of West Sumatra, inland from the provincial capital Padang. Created by Law No.12 of 1956, it is an enclave situated geographically within Tanah Datar Regency. It sits on a plateau beneath the volcanoes Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang. It has an area of 23.0 km² and a population at the 2010 Census of 47,008 and 56,311 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 58,627 - comprising 29,461 males and 29,166 females. It is located at 0°27′S 100°25′E.

Padang Panjang ڤادڠ ڤنجڠ
City
City of Padang Panjang Kota Padang Panjang
A traditional Minangkabau rumah gadang ("big house") in Padang Panjang
Coat of arms
Nickname:  Egypte van Andalas (Egypt of Andalas)
Motto(s):  Padang Panjang Kota Serambi Mekah (Indonesian: Padang Panjang The Courtyard of Mecca)
Location within West Sumatra
Padang Panjang Location in West Sumatra and Indonesia Padang Panjang Padang Panjang (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 0°27′S 100°25′E
Country	Indonesia
Region	Sumatra
Province	West Sumatra
Government
• Acting Mayor	Sonny Budaya Putra
• Vice Mayor	Vacant
Area
• Total	23.00 km2 (8.88 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	58,627
• Density	2,500/km2 (6,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Area code	(+62) 752
Website	portal.padangpanjang.go.id

Home to a famous performing arts conservatorium, Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia (STSI or "Indonesian College of the Art") The town stretches up the hill from the marketplace and central mosque, to the soccer field and bus terminal on up to STSI. The main road through Padang Panjang links coastal Padang and the highland capital, Bukittinggi.

The city is also home to the Minangkabau Cultural Documentation and Information Center (Pusat Dokumentasi dan Informasi Kebudayaan Minangkabau - PDIKM).

Administrative Districts

Padang Panjang city consists of two districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and population totals from 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 and its postal codes.

Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n Census 2010	Pop'n Census 2020	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023	Admin centre	Post codes
Padang Panjang Barat (West Padang Panjang)	9.75	27,637	32,160	33,195	Kampung Manggis	27111 -27118
Padang Panjang Timur (East Padang Panjang)	13.25	19,371	24,151	25,432	Ngalau	27121 -27128
Totals	23.00	47,008	56,311	58,627

Administrative villages (kelurahan)

West Padang Panjang District consists of the 8 villages of Silaing Bawah, Silaing Atas, Pasar Usang, Kampung Manggis, Tanah Hitam, Pasar Baru, Bukit Surungan and Balai-Balai. East Padang Panjang District comprises the 8 villages of Koto Panjang, Koto Katik, Ngalau, Ekor Lubuk, Sigando, Ganting, Guguk Malintang and Tanah Pak Lambik.

Town without cigarette advertisements

Since 2008, Padang Panjang is the only city in Indonesia without cigarette advertisements. In public areas, public transport, and youth facilities, smoking is prohibited. In other areas, smoking is restricted to smoking rooms. In 2014, some pulmonologists wished to transfer to other towns, because of the lack of patients.

Notable people

• Arifin Bey, diplomat, editor, teacher, author
• Sri Owen, food writer and cook who introduced Indonesian cuisine to the English-speaking world
• Tommy Rifka Putra, footballer
• Rahmah el Yunusiyah, women's education activist and member of the Indonesian parliament

Gallery

• 
  Indonesian Art High School (STSI) in Padang Panjang
• 
  Street scenery in Padang Panjang in colonial times, with Mount Marapi
• 
  The 1926 Padang Panjang earthquakes
• 
  Minangkabau mosque in Padang Panjang year 1912
• 
  Europeans sitting before the house of the resident of Padang Panjang in 1900
• 
  Opening of the railway line in Padang Panjang in 1895

External links

• Padang Panjang travel guide from Wikivoyage