Palu

Palu is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. It is on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi Island at the mouth of the Palu River. The city covers an area of 395.06 km² (152.53 sq mi). In 2020, the city had a population of 373,218 people. This makes it the third-most populous city on the island after Makassar and Manado.

Originally a small farming town, Palu became the capital of Central Sulawesi Province in 1953. The city is an important center for money, government, and learning in the area. It has the province's main port, its biggest airport, and several public universities.

However, Palu is located on the Palu-Koro Fault, which makes it prone to earthquakes. In 2018, a major earthquake struck the area, causing widespread damage. Because of this, local leaders thought about moving the city to a safer place instead of rebuilding in the same spot.

History

Palu started as a small farming town and was not as important as the nearby town of Donggala. People from villages near Ulayo Mountain founded Palu. There are different stories about how the city got its name. One story says it comes from a word meaning "raised land." Another says it comes from the name of local bamboo plants.

In the early days, the area around Palu went through different time periods. During the Tomalanggai Era, people were mostly hunters and gatherers, and groups sometimes fought over scarce resources. Later, during the Tomanuru Era, life became more peaceful, and villages had more organized leaders.

When the Dutch arrived in the 1800s, they made agreements with local kingdoms. This brought the area under Dutch control, although there were some fights against this rule.

During World War II, a movement called the Merah Putih Movement began in the area, showing support for Indonesian independence. After the war, when Japan took over, this movement ended. After Japan surrendered, local leaders helped spread news about Indonesia’s independence.

In the 1950s and 60s, Palu grew quickly, especially after a big port and an airport were built. Palu became the capital of Central Sulawesi Province in 1964.

On 28 September 2018, a big earthquake and tsunami struck the city, causing severe damage. The city is still being rebuilt.

Geography

Palu is a city in Indonesia. It is in a valley near Palu Bay. The ground there is soft soil and sand from the Palu River. This soft ground can move during strong earthquakes.

Palu has a warm climate with rain all year. It can feel a bit drier because mountains block some of the rain.

Governance

Administrative division

Palu had four districts during the 2010 census in Indonesia. By 2011, these became eight districts. The tables below show details about each district.

Local government

Palu's local government is led by a mayor and vice mayor, with help from a city parliament. The mayor, vice mayor, and parliament members are chosen in elections by the city's residents. The mayor picks leaders for each district with advice from the city secretary.

Politics

Palu is part of the 1st Central Sulawesi electoral district and has six representatives in the provincial parliament. The city has four electoral districts, and the city parliament has 35 seats. As the capital of Central Sulawesi, Palu is where the governor's office and the provincial parliament are located.

Economy

Palu's economy had some problems in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, the city had been growing well. Important parts of the economy are construction, administration, and communication services.

In the past, Palu was famous for farming, especially making copra. Today, farming is still important, with crops like rice, maize, and vegetables. The city also has many chickens and some fishing. Manufacturing includes companies that work with goods from other places, like nickel and cocoa.

As the capital of Central Sulawesi, Palu has many hotels, but tourism has gone down in recent years. The city is also a financial center, with many banks and cooperatives helping local businesses.

Demographics

In 2020, Palu had a population of 373,218 people, many of whom lived close together. Most people in Palu are between 20 and 30 years old. The city is home to many different groups, including the native Kaili people, as well as Bugis, Mandar, and Minahasan people who moved there for work.

Most people in Palu follow the Muslim faith. There are also Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus living in the city. Palu has many places of worship, including mosques, churches, temples, and Vihāras.

Education

Palu has many schools. There are 171 kindergartens, 190 elementary schools, 73 junior high schools, and 39 senior high schools. There are also 26 vocational high schools and 13 universities.

The most well-known university is Tadulako University. It is the main public university of Central Sulawesi. The city also has a public library. People in Palu know how to read well.

Healthcare

Palu has many places where people can get help when they are sick. As of 2020, there were 13 hospitals, including three just for mothers and babies, along with 17 polyclinics, 39 puskesmas, and 35 pharmacies.

One important public hospital is Undata Regional Hospital, run by the government of Central Sulawesi province. There are also other public hospitals like Anutapura Palu Regional Hospital and Palu Wirabuana Hospital. Some private hospitals in the city include Woodward Hospital and Budi Agung Hospital. The city also had 227 healthcare posts and 28 medical clinics in 2020.

Culture and entertainment

Palu has many places for visitors to enjoy. One important site is the Nosarara Nosabatutu Peace Monument. This tall building has messages about peace from different religions and pictures of people who worked for peace. Near the monument, there is a large gong called the Nusantara Gong of Peace. It has symbols of Indonesia’s recognized religions and the coats of arms of its provinces.

Other fun places in Palu include Citraland Palu, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel and bumper cars. There are also several parks, cafes, and shops. The Palu Museum tells the history of Central Sulawesi, and there are natural attractions like Talise Beach and Kaombana Urban Forest. The city also has shopping malls.

Transportation

Palu has many paved roads for travel. The main port is Pantoloan Port, which helps ships bring goods in and out of the area. The city also has smaller ports like Wani Port.

The biggest airport is Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport, where big planes like the Boeing 737 can land. Ships run by Pelni connect Palu to places like Eastern Indonesia, Balikpapan, and Surabaya.

There are bus services run by Perum DAMRI, but many stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Private buses still run, especially to Makassar.

Share taxis called angkot used to be common, but now there are fewer because of online ride services like Gojek and Grab. The city also has rickshaws that are being changed to auto rickshaws. Every weekend morning, the city center has car-free hours.

Media

Palu has many media companies. In 2021, there were 82 online newspapers in the city. Some well-known ones are SultengRaya, Tribun Palu, and the media wing of Alkhairaat. The city also has local television channels like Palu TV and a state-owned station TVRI for Central Sulawesi province. There are also radio stations that are part of Radio Republik Indonesia.