Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Metro, Lampung

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Country
  
Indonesia

Province
  
Lampung

Area
  
68.74 km2

Mayor
  
Lukman Hakim


Metro ( historically known as Trimurjo) is an Indonesian city (kota) located in Lampung. Founded in 1936, it covers an area of 68.74 square kilometres (26.54 sq mi) and had a population of 145,346 at the 2010 Census; the latest official estimate (for January 2014) is 152,428.

Contents

Map of Metro, Lampung

History

Metro, Lampung in the past, History of Metro, Lampung

Prior to 1936, Trimurjo was part of Gunungsugih onder distric; it was isolated, without much influence from the indigenous Lampungese people. However, beginning in 1936 the Dutch colonial government sent Javanese migrants to colonise the area, which served to relieve overpopulation on Java, and mitigate the influence of Indonesian independence activists. The first group arrived on 4 April 1936.

Metro, Lampung in the past, History of Metro, Lampung

On 9 June 1937, the name of the area was changed from Trimurjo to Metro and that same year it was established as a separate onder distric, with Raden Mas Sudarto as the first assistant district chief. During this same period the Dutch colonial government built more roads, as well as a clinic, police office, and administrative offices. By 1941 a mosque, post office, large market, and inn had been built, and electricity and telephone lines had been installed.

Development soon outpaced the natural irrigation capabilities of the area. To ensure proper healthy crops, the Dutch hired Ir. Swam to design an irrigation system. His design called for a levee as well as a 30 metres (98 ft) wide and 10 metres (33 ft) deep irrigation canal from Way Sekampung River to Metro. Labour was provided by the migrants, who were conscripted and worked in shifts. Construction began in 1937 and was finished in 1941.

After the Japanese invasion of Indonesia in 1942, all Dutch personnel were evacuated or captured. The migration program was continued under the name imin kakari, and seventy Javanese migrants were used as forced labour in the construction of the nearby Natar and Astra Ksetra airstrips as well as numerous bunkers and other strategic assets; those who resisted were shot.

The remaining citizens were malnourished, with their harvests being taken by the Japanese occupying forces. Diseases spread rampantly throughout the populace, carried by ticks. Deaths were common, as were women, including wives of the forced labourers, being taken as comfort women.

During the Indonesian war of independence, the Dutch attempted to retake Metro. When they first arrived, they were unable to enter as the bridge to the city in Tempuran had been destroyed by a 26-man troop of the Indonesian army, under the command of Second Lieutenant Bursyah; the Dutch convoy was forced to retreat. However, the following day the Dutch returned in greater numbers and attacked from Tegineneng, eventually entering the city and killing three Indonesian soldiers.

Upon entering the city, the Dutch forces were besieged by sabotage by 41 soldiers under the command of Second Lieutenant Raden Sudarto. After chasing Sudarto’s forces throughout the area, the Dutch continued to Palembang. Despite an extended guerrilla campaign by the Indonesian military, the Dutch eventually retook Metro in 1949, surrendering it that same year.

After the war, Metro continued to develop. In 1956, its government was stylized as a negeri based on Governor’s Decree Number 153/D/1956. This led to adat lands being owned by the local government.

In 1976 Metro became the capital of the newly formed Central Lampung Regency, which at the time included parts of present-day East Lampung Regency.

Beginning in 1985, the local government began working to stimulate the economy. Retail chains began entering the city, a movie theatre and stadium was built, the town square was redesigned as a park, and Cendrawasih market was renovated.

On 14 August 1986, Metro was designated an administrative city, in accordance with Government Decree Number 34 of 1986, with the formal ceremony taking place on 6 September 1987.

Metro was established as an autonomous city (kota) with the passing of Law Number 12 of 1999 on 27 April 1999, with Gunungsugih becoming the capital of Central Lampung. The first mayor after Metro’s establishment as an autonomous city was Mozes Herman, with Lukman Hakim as vice-mayor. Lukman Hakim is currently the mayor of Metro.

Geography and climate

Metro, Lampung Beautiful Landscapes of Metro, Lampung

Metro is spread over an area of 68.74 square kilometres (26.54 sq mi), with the built up area consisting of 24.57% of the city, or 16.88 square kilometres (6.52 sq mi). As of 2010, it has a population of 145,346, with a density of 2,116.2 people per km2 (5,480.9/sq mi); the latest estimate is 152,428.

Metro, Lampung Beautiful Landscapes of Metro, Lampung

The city is built around the Dutch land use planning system. Its economic and political hub is in the center, in the area around the city park. All five provincial and national roads that transect Metro meet in this area. Northern Metro is a residential area, while western Metro is used for commercial space, southern Metro for agriculture, and parts of southern and eastern Metro for educational and other public facilities.

The land in Metro is relatively flat, with an elevation between 30 to 60 metres (98–197 ft). When it was first settled, the area was heavily forested; there are still pockets of forest within the city limits.

When Metro was originally made an autonomous city, it had two kecamatan, or subdistricts, Metro Raya and Metro Bantul. However, it now has five.

The climate in Metro is humid and tropical. The average air temperature is between 26 and 28 °C (79 and 82 °F), with an average humidity of 80 to 88% and an average yearly precipitation of 2,264 to 2,868 millimetres (89.1 to 112.9 in). The dry season usually lasts from September until May.

Economy

In 2002, Metro had a budget of Rp 336 billion (USD 37.3 million). The largest contributor to Metro’s economy is the service sector, contributing 22.94% of the city’s income in 2002.

References

Metro, Lampung Wikipedia (,)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/IndonesiaLampung.png(,)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Anak_Krakatoa.jpg(,)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Een_echtpaar_uit_Lampung_(Sumatra)_in_adatkostuum_TMnr_10002793.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/a5whalrhrZ0/0.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EcnQ10qE2P4/hqdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xadg4rr7xVs/hqdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SE3nLznpUeI/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/b-tbQ9xuO9M/hqdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dupu1jsEQCg/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HIvQ24B6byE/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ECBqnZ1KKIU/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lIrKAKMkKbc/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/O__CvPVkzV8/0.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VvL_aNq8L4w/maxresdefault.jpg(,)http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xRbV1WfPjbo/hqdefault.jpg(,)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3871/15143169592_819d8536d5_m.jpg(,)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5560/15141032141_1cf75fa608_m.jpg(,)http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/10537995_521363487992866_1524256087_n.jpg(,)http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NHXCFWGGXg/TwWmAHxoQuI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Gch8jiGqvGY/s1600/metro4.JPG(,)http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/14201237.jpg(,)http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/16136538.jpg(,)http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1100/5122604949_dccc301b22_z.jpg(,)http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/d0/be/a3/nuban-hotel.jpg(,)http://36.media.tumblr.com/08f131d66d1f5890ef3225b83e379d5d/tumblr_ngltaokUqy1se7k7fo1_1280.jpg(,)http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gWxgqFrzc18/ULTJPoFpguI/AAAAAAAAAMI/R9Ju8_KFfMI/s1600/2012-11-03%2B14.18.07.jpg(,)http://exp.cdn-hotels.com/hotels/9000000/8170000/8165100/8165087/8165087_28_z.jpg(,)http://exp.cdn-hotels.com/hotels/9000000/8170000/8165100/8165087/8165087_1_z.jpg(,)http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/72525550.jpg(,)http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-76Rn2p1MX2c/UJpkSgoNjyI/AAAAAAAAALc/1ULUheM-xFY/s1600/2012-11-06%2B10.31.35.jpg