Dairi Regency is an inland regency on the west shore of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The regency covers an area of 1,927.77 square kilometres (744.32 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 2022 was 315,460.[1] Its seat is at the town of Sidikalang.
Geography and climate
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]
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 2022 it was estimated as 315,460.[1]
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 2022.[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 2022
Admin centre
No. of villages
Post code
12.11.01
Sidikalang
70.67
48,646
53,433
54,160
Sidikalang
11 (a)
22211 -22219
12.11.13
Berampu
40.85
7,908
9,031
9,223
Berampu
5
22251
12.11.15
Sitinjo
53.15
11,235
14,429
15,075
Sitinjo
4 (b)
22219
12.11.10
Parbuluan
235.40
20,637
25,236
26,116
Sigalingging
11
22282
12.11.02
Sumbul
192.58
39,365
45,606
46,706
Sumbul
19 (b)
22284
12.11.14
Silahisabungan
75.62
4,471
5,242
5,381
Silalahi
5
22280
12.11.05
Silima Pungga-Pungga
88.35
12,651
14,448
14,755
Parongil
16 (b)
22262
12.11.11
Lae Parira
42.75
13,567
14,526
14,651
Lae Parira
9
22281
12.11.04
Siempat Nempu
60.15
17,979
20,241
20,614
Buntu Raja
13
22261
12.11.07
Siempat Nempu Hulu (Upper Siempat Nempu)
93.93
17,663
20,183
20,615
Silumboyah
12
22254
12.11.08
Siempat Nempu Hilir (Lower Siempat Nempu)
105.62
10,423
11,746
11,965
Sopobutar
10
22263
12.11.03
Tigalingga
197.00
21,444
24,428
24,935
Tigalingga
14
22252
12.11.12
Gunung Sitember
77.00
9,090
10,714
11,009
Gunung Sitember
8
22250
12.11.09
Pegagan Hilir (Lower Pegagan)
155.33
14,740
16,740
17,078
Tiga Baru
13
22283
12.11.06
Tanah Pinem
439.40
20,234
22,761
23,177
Kuta Buluh
19
22253
Totals
1,927.80
269,848
308,764
315,460
Sidikalang
169
Notes: (a) comprising 5 kelurahan and 6 desa. (b) including one desa.
Coat of arms
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
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 Indonesiandemang, 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
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]
"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.
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