Depok
Encyclopedia
Depok is a city in West Java
province, Indonesia
on the western border of DKI Jakarta in the Jabodetabek
metropolitan region. The "de" in Jabodetabek refers to Depok, while the word "depok" itself comes from Sundanese language
meaning hermitage or abode of one living in seclusion.
It has an area of 200.29 km2 and 1,374,903 people in 2005, with a density of 6,865 people/km2. For 2007,the population was 1,412,772 and in 2010, the population in Depok become 1,751,696.
officer Cornelis Chastelein bought the land with an area of 12,44 km2, 6.2% of area of today's Depok. Besides cultivating the area with industrial plants with the help of the locals, Mr Chastelein was also active in Zending mission to preach the teachings of Christianity to the indigenous Indonesians. To this end, he established a local congregation named De Eerste Protestante Organisatie van Christenen (DEPOC). Although the Sundanese name Depok, meaning hermitage or abode of one living in seclusion, was already in existence before the establishment of the congregation, some insist the acronym might have been the origin of the city's name.
Prior to his death, Mr Chastelein had written a will that freed the slave families of Depok and gave them pieces of his land, therefore converting slaves into landlord
s.
The twelve original Depok family names are:
The original slave families of Depok are of Balinese, Ambonese, Buginese, Sundanese and Portuguese Indo
i.e. Mestizo and Mardijker descent. Isakh, Jacob, Jonathans, Joseph and Samuel were family names baptized by Chastlein after the slave families converted to Protestant Christianity. The other families retained their original names and might have been (Roman Catholic) Christian already before joining Chasteleins Protestant church. All of the original Depok families, except for the Sadokh family, are still alive in either Indonesia or the Netherlands.
In 1871, the colonial government even gave Depok a special status allowing the area to form its own government and president. The ruling no longer stood after 1952, where the Depok presidency ceded its control of Depok to the Indonesian government except for a few areas.
During the Bersiap
period of 1945 much of Depok was destroyed and many of its inhabitants killed by 'Pemuda'. Many of the original Depok families have fled from Indonesia during the Indonesian revolution and now live in the Netherlands as part of the Indo community there.
In March 1982 Depok was reclassified as an administrative city, and in 1999, as a city headed by a mayor.
In 20 April 1999, the City of Depok was unified with some districts of Bogor Regency to form Depok city with an area of 200,29 km2. This date is commemorated as a date of the establishment of Depok city.
: Beji, Cimanggis, Limo, Pancoran Mas, Sawangan, Sukmajaya, Cipayung, Cilodong, Cinere, Tapos, and Bojongsari.
s of Depok:
As for food, Depok has many local restaurants, but also is home to international chains such as McDonalds, A&W, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks.
Modern day landmarks that were once known as Depok's primary shopping centers include Ramanda (now an autoshop plus education centre), Hero Supermarket (now Index Home Furnishings), Agung Shop (now defunct and burned during the riot), and Target (now defunct).
There are several new shopping centers in Depok: ITC Depok (anchor tenant: Carrefour), Depok Town Square -commonly referred to as DeTos (anchor tenant: Matahari), and the latest mall which is Margo City (anchor tenants: Centro, Giant, Electronic City), all located on the street 'Margonda Raya.'
Traditional markets include Pasar Depok Baru, Pasar Depok Lama (short: Pasar Lama), Pasar Kemiri (originally expanded to facilitate the move of Pasar Lama traders), Pasar PAL, Pasar Agung, Pasar Musi, Pasar Majapahit
Depok has several major bookstores including a Gramedia and Toko Gunung Agung and a large collection of small roadside bookstores.
Depok also has several private language schools, namely thefuture, EF English First, ILP, and several other smaller establishments. These are all located along Margonda Raya and Cinere Raya, the main road through Depok.
to the north and Bogor
to the south. In Depok there are two major Train Stations. The Depok or Depok Lama (Old Depok) Station which is older and has many more tracks, is located to the south. The Depok Baru (New Depok) Station is located closer to Jakarta. There are also smaller train stations: University of Indonesia
and Pondok Cina. The train is the fastest and most-used way to travel to central Jakarta, and is usually extremely crowded during peak times. Depok is also served by the Pondok Cabe Airport
.
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
province, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
on the western border of DKI Jakarta in the Jabodetabek
Jabotabek
Jabotabek is an officially recognized definition and term given to the urban region surrounding Jakarta, Indonesia in 2000, officially including five municipalities and three regencies...
metropolitan region. The "de" in Jabodetabek refers to Depok, while the word "depok" itself comes from Sundanese language
Sundanese language
Sundanese is the language of about 27 million people from the western third of Java or about 15% of the Indonesian population....
meaning hermitage or abode of one living in seclusion.
It has an area of 200.29 km2 and 1,374,903 people in 2005, with a density of 6,865 people/km2. For 2007,the population was 1,412,772 and in 2010, the population in Depok become 1,751,696.
History
In 18 May 1696, a former VOCDutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
officer Cornelis Chastelein bought the land with an area of 12,44 km2, 6.2% of area of today's Depok. Besides cultivating the area with industrial plants with the help of the locals, Mr Chastelein was also active in Zending mission to preach the teachings of Christianity to the indigenous Indonesians. To this end, he established a local congregation named De Eerste Protestante Organisatie van Christenen (DEPOC). Although the Sundanese name Depok, meaning hermitage or abode of one living in seclusion, was already in existence before the establishment of the congregation, some insist the acronym might have been the origin of the city's name.
Prior to his death, Mr Chastelein had written a will that freed the slave families of Depok and gave them pieces of his land, therefore converting slaves into landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
s.
The twelve original Depok family names are:
- Bacas;
- Isakh;
- Jacob;
- Jonathan;
- Joseph;
- Laurens;
- Leander;
- Loen;
- Sadokh;
- Samuel;
- Soedira;
- Tholense.
The original slave families of Depok are of Balinese, Ambonese, Buginese, Sundanese and Portuguese Indo
Indos in pre-colonial history
Indo people are a Eurasian people of mixed Indonesian and European descent. Through the 16 and 18th century known by the name Mestiço . To this day they form one of the largest Eurasian communities in the world. The early beginning of this community started with the arrival of Portuguese traders...
i.e. Mestizo and Mardijker descent. Isakh, Jacob, Jonathans, Joseph and Samuel were family names baptized by Chastlein after the slave families converted to Protestant Christianity. The other families retained their original names and might have been (Roman Catholic) Christian already before joining Chasteleins Protestant church. All of the original Depok families, except for the Sadokh family, are still alive in either Indonesia or the Netherlands.
In 1871, the colonial government even gave Depok a special status allowing the area to form its own government and president. The ruling no longer stood after 1952, where the Depok presidency ceded its control of Depok to the Indonesian government except for a few areas.
During the Bersiap
Bersiap
Bersiap is the name given by the Dutch to a violent and chaotic phase of Indonesia's revolutionary period following the end of World War II. The Indonesian word bersiap means 'get ready' or 'be prepared'...
period of 1945 much of Depok was destroyed and many of its inhabitants killed by 'Pemuda'. Many of the original Depok families have fled from Indonesia during the Indonesian revolution and now live in the Netherlands as part of the Indo community there.
In March 1982 Depok was reclassified as an administrative city, and in 1999, as a city headed by a mayor.
In 20 April 1999, the City of Depok was unified with some districts of Bogor Regency to form Depok city with an area of 200,29 km2. This date is commemorated as a date of the establishment of Depok city.
Subdistricts
Depok is divided into 11 subdistrictsSubdistricts of Indonesia
In Indonesia, a kecamatan or district is a subdivision of a regency or of a city . A district is itself divided into kelurahan or administrative villages....
: Beji, Cimanggis, Limo, Pancoran Mas, Sawangan, Sukmajaya, Cipayung, Cilodong, Cinere, Tapos, and Bojongsari.
Mayors
List of MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s of Depok:
- Moch. Rukasah Suradimadja (1982–1984)
- I. Tamdjid (1984–1988)
- Abdul Wachyan (1988–1991)
- Moch Masduki (1991–1992)
- Sofyan Safari Hamim (1992–1996)
- Badrul Kamal (1997–2005)
- Nur Mahmudi IsmailNur Mahmudi IsmailDr. Ir. H. Nur Mahmudi Ismail was born in Kediri, November 11, 1961. Currently he is the Mayor of Depok City, a satellite city of West Java located in the southern part of Jakarta.-Political career:...
(2005–2010) - Nur Mahmudi IsmailNur Mahmudi IsmailDr. Ir. H. Nur Mahmudi Ismail was born in Kediri, November 11, 1961. Currently he is the Mayor of Depok City, a satellite city of West Java located in the southern part of Jakarta.-Political career:...
(2010–present)
Commerce
Depok has a growing eclectic collection of malls and traditional markets. Older malls or other notable shopping centers in Depok include Mall Depok, Depok Plaza, and SixtyOne Building, and Depok ITC.As for food, Depok has many local restaurants, but also is home to international chains such as McDonalds, A&W, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks.
Modern day landmarks that were once known as Depok's primary shopping centers include Ramanda (now an autoshop plus education centre), Hero Supermarket (now Index Home Furnishings), Agung Shop (now defunct and burned during the riot), and Target (now defunct).
There are several new shopping centers in Depok: ITC Depok (anchor tenant: Carrefour), Depok Town Square -commonly referred to as DeTos (anchor tenant: Matahari), and the latest mall which is Margo City (anchor tenants: Centro, Giant, Electronic City), all located on the street 'Margonda Raya.'
Traditional markets include Pasar Depok Baru, Pasar Depok Lama (short: Pasar Lama), Pasar Kemiri (originally expanded to facilitate the move of Pasar Lama traders), Pasar PAL, Pasar Agung, Pasar Musi, Pasar Majapahit
Depok has several major bookstores including a Gramedia and Toko Gunung Agung and a large collection of small roadside bookstores.
Education
The following universities are in Depok:- Universitas IndonesiaUniversity of IndonesiaThe Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
- Universitas Gunadarma
- Politeknik Tugu
- Politeknik Negeri Jakarta
Depok also has several private language schools, namely thefuture, EF English First, ILP, and several other smaller establishments. These are all located along Margonda Raya and Cinere Raya, the main road through Depok.
Transportation
Public car transportation (angkot) is the major means of transportation in Depok. The other mean of transport is train that connects Depok to JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
to the north and Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
to the south. In Depok there are two major Train Stations. The Depok or Depok Lama (Old Depok) Station which is older and has many more tracks, is located to the south. The Depok Baru (New Depok) Station is located closer to Jakarta. There are also smaller train stations: University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
and Pondok Cina. The train is the fastest and most-used way to travel to central Jakarta, and is usually extremely crowded during peak times. Depok is also served by the Pondok Cabe Airport
Pondok Cabe Airport
Pondok Cabe Airport is a military airport. It serves Ciputat, Cinere, Depok, other parts of Depok and districts in South Jakarta. The airport is located in South Tangerang and not far to the border of Cinere in Depok, Pamulang, West and East Ciputat in South Tangerang, and Cilandak and Jagakarsa...
.
External links
- Official site
- Jakarta Globe News article by Tasa Nugraza Barley dd. August 26, 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010