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Kupang ( id, Kota Kupang, ), formerly known as Koepang, is the capital of the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. At the 2020 C ensus, it had a population of 442,758; the official estimate as at mid 2021 was 455,850. It is the largest city and port on the island of Timor, and is a part of the Timor Leste-Indonesia-Australia Growth Triangle free trade zone. Geographically, Kupang is the southernmost city in Indonesia.


History


Early history and Portuguese domination

Kupang was an important port and trading post during the Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras. There are still ruins and remnants of the colonial presence in the city. Representatives of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) first encountered Kupang in 1613 after having conquered the Portuguese fort on the island of
Solor Solor is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of Flores island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in the Solor Archipelago. The island supports a small population that has been whaling for hundreds of years. They speak the lang ...
. At this time the area of the city was governed by a Raja of the Helong tribe, who claimed descent from the island of Ceram in the Maluku archipelago. Kupang occupied an ideal strategic position to exercise control over parts of Timor since it was possible to monitor shipping activities along the south coast of the island from the location. Moreover, the Koinino River provided a supply of fresh water for the city. An agreement was reached between the VOC and the Helong tribe, but due to a lack of VOC presence on Timor, Kupang was heavily influenced by the Portuguese
mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed Ethnic groups in Europe, European and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also r ...
population of
Flores Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in the eastern half of Indonesia. Including the Komodo Islands off its west coast (but excluding the Solor Archipelago to the east of Flores), the land area is 15,530.58 km2, and th ...
, the Topasses, which led to the establishment of a Portuguese stronghold by the 1640s. However, by 1646, the VOC was firmly established on the nearby island of Solor, and renewed their agreement with the local Raja of Kupang. In January 1653, a Dutch fortification, Fort Concordia, was built on an elevated position on the left bank of the river estuary. Kupang then became the base of the Dutch struggle against the Portuguese. After a series of defeats were inflicted on the Dutch in between 1655 and 1657, large groups of refugees from the neighbouring VOC allies of the
Sonbai Sonbai (also spelt ''Sonnebay'', ''Sonba'i'', or ''Sonbait'') was an Indonesian princely dynasty that reigned over various parts of West Timor from at least the 17th century until the 1950s. It was known as the most prestigious princedom of the Aton ...
and Amabi principalities settled into the vicinity of Kupang and formed small polities on land that had traditionally belonged to the Helong. They were followed by two other groups, the Amfoan and the Taebenu, who arrived in 1683 and 1688, respectively. The Helong Raja remained the "Lord of the Land" (''tuan tanah'') but remained closely dependent on VOC authorities. However, apart from the territory of the Helong, the island of Timor was largely dominated by the Portuguese until 1749.


Dutch colony

The Dutch established a European-modelled administration with a chief executive (''opperhoofd'') and a council, which regulated affairs with the indigenous population through regular meetings (''vergaderingen''), and which also handled affairs with the nearby VOC-allied islands of
Rote Rote can refer to: People *Jason Butler Rote, American TV writer *Kyle Rote (1928–2002), American football player and father of: *Kyle Rote, Jr. (born 1950), American soccer player *Ryan Rote (born 1982), baseball pitcher *Tobin Rote (1928–200 ...
, Savu, and
Solor Solor is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of Flores island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in the Solor Archipelago. The island supports a small population that has been whaling for hundreds of years. They speak the lang ...
. Chinese traders and artisans were settled by the early 18th century and soon became an indispensable part of the local economy. The area of the town was also settled by various indigenous groups from the region, and by
mardijkers The Mardijker people refers to an ethnic community in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) made up of descendants of freed slaves. They could be found at all major trading posts in the East Indies. They were mostly Christian, of various ...
(who were the descendants of freed slaves under Dutch jurisdiction). In 1752, the population consisted of 827 Christians and an unspecified number of non-Christians. The political importance of Kupang increased greatly in 1749 when the Topasses were decisively defeated by the Dutch and their allies, which led to the extension of VOC influence over wide areas of western and central Timor. Nevertheless, Dutch influence on the island was somewhat diminished after 1761 due to incompetence and inaction on part of the colonial administration. Kupang was the final destination of William Bligh, who was set adrift in an open boat following the Mutiny on the Bounty (1789). After travelling 3,618 nautical miles (6,710 km) from the Tonga Islands over 41 days, Bligh landed in Kupang on 14 June. News of his journey inspired a small party of nine convicts and two children to escape from the penal colony at
Sydney Cove Sydney Cove (Eora: ) is a bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, one of several harbours in Port Jackson, on the coast of Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney Cove is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney locatio ...
, Australia, who escaped from Port Jackson, Australia, and arrived at Kupang after ten weeks, having travelled 3,254 nautical miles (6,026 km). VOC positions in the East Indies were attacked by British Forces following the occupation of the Netherlands by French revolutionary armies in 1795. Kupang was assaulted in 1797, and the British were eventually expelled, although the town suffered extensive damage. Another British attack in 1811 was similarly defeated. After the British occupation of Java, Kupang finally surrendered in January 1812, and the town was returned to the Dutch in 1816 following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The politics of the city in the early 19th century were dominated by Jacobus Arnoldus Hazaart, who governed Dutch Timor as ''Resident'' in three terms between 1810 and 1832, and handled matters with little intereference from the colonial government in
Batavia Batavia may refer to: Historical places * Batavia (region), a land inhabited by the Batavian people during the Roman Empire, today part of the Netherlands * Batavia, Dutch East Indies, present-day Jakarta, the former capital of the Dutch East In ...
. During his tenure the Christian mission in the city experienced greater success than before, partially through the efforts of the missionary Reint LeBruyn (1799-1829). The town was opened to foreign trade in 1825, and fees were abolished three years later. Kupang's subsequent popularity with British and North American whalers was diminished by the late 19th century after the relocation of whaling areas, although the city was a free port after 1866. In 1917, the five small kingdoms that surrounded the town area (the Helong kingdoms of Kupang,
Sonbai Kecil Sonbai Kecil or ''Lesser Sonbai'' was an Atoni princedom in West Timor, now included in Indonesia. It existed from 1658 to 1917, when it merged into a colonial creation, the zelfbesturend landschap Kupang. Migration to Kupang Sonbai Kecil was ori ...
, Amabi, Taebenu and Funai) were merged into the ''zelfbesturend landschap'' (self-ruling territory) of Kupang in 1917, which, in spite of the name, did not include the city itself. From 1918 to 1955 Kupang was governed by the Nisnoni family, a branch of the
Sonbai Dynasty Sonbai (also spelt ''Sonnebay'', ''Sonba'i'', or ''Sonbait'') was an Indonesian princely dynasty that reigned over various parts of West Timor from at least the 17th century until the 1950s. It was known as the most prestigious princedom of the Ato ...
.


Recent history and independence

The city was used for landing and refueling by long-distance flights between Europe and Australia. It was under Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945, and much of the Old Town was destroyed by Allied bombing. The city saw significant nationalist agitation but remained otherwise peaceful during the period of the Indonesian revolution (1945-1949). Kupang was later part of the
State of East Indonesia The State of East Indonesia ( id, Negara Indonesia Timur, old spelling: ''Negara Indonesia Timoer'', nl, Oost-Indonesië) was a post–World War II state formed in the eastern half of Dutch East Indies. Established in December 1946, it became ...
that was established by the Dutch authorities in 1946, and the area of the city was included in the ''zelfbesturend landschap'' of Kupang. The city, along with the state of East Indonesia was later annexed into the United States of Indonesia in 1949, which was replaced by the current
Republic of Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea. Ind ...
in 1950. The city later became an important location in the Timorese conflict. In 1967, the city became the seat of the Diocese of Kupang. In 1989, the diocese was elevated to the Archdiocese of Kupang. In April 2021, the city was heavily damaged by Tropical
Cyclone Seroja Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja was a deadly tropical cyclone that brought historic flooding and landslides to portions of southern Indonesia and East Timor and later went on to make landfall in Western Australia's Mid West region, becoming the fi ...
.


Geography

Kupang is located in the southwestern tip of the island of Timor. It is solely bordered by the
Kupang Regency Kupang Regency is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It occupies the far western end of Timor Island (apart from the area of Kupang city, which has been administratively separated from the Regency since 11 April 1996), together ...
on land, and on its northern shore by the Savu Sea. It has a land area of 180.27 square kilometers (which is divided into six administrative districts), along with a water area of 94.79 square kilometers. The area around the city is geologically inactive, with soil composition characterised by non-volcanic materials such as
Latosol Latosols, also known as tropical red earth, are soils found under tropical rainforests which have a relatively high content of iron and aluminium oxides. They are typically classified as oxisols (USDA soil taxonomy) or ferralsols (World Reference B ...
and
Terra rossa Terra rossa (Italian for "red soil") is a well-drained, reddish, clayey to silty soil with neutral pH conditions and is typical of the Mediterranean region. The reddish color of terra rossa is the result of the preferential formation of hematite ...
. At its highest point, the city is 62 metres above sea level, with inclination varying from 0 - 5%. The topography of the city is mostly low-lying, but also includes groups of hills in the south and southwest, which has the effect of creating a relatively fertile catchment area.


Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Kupang has a tropical savanna climate (''Aw''). Unlike many cities with this climate, Kupang's temperature varies little between the summer season (October to March) and the winter season (April to September). The hottest month is October (with an average temperature of ), while the coolest is July (with an average temperature of ). The city experiences extreme wet and dry seasons, with January being the wettest month (with an average total rainfall of ), while August and September are the driest months (with an average of only of rain in each month).


Demographics

Because of its status as a provincial capital, Kupang has become a multi-ethnic city and is a popular destination for migration from neighbouring regions. The city's population increased by 31% from 2010 to 2020. In that year, the ratio of males to females in the city was 51 to 50. As with most Indonesian cities, the population is young, with 65% of the city's population classified in the potential productive workforce of people over 15 years of age. The predominant age group is in the range of 20 to 24 years old, which can be attributed to an influx of young migrants from other regions. The population growth in 2020 was approximately 3%. The majority of the city's population identify as Protestant (326,229). Smaller religious groups include Catholic (75,804), Muslim (44,419),
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
(6,114), and Buddhist (205). Life expectancy in the city is 70 years, which, although slightly below the national level, is higher than the provincial figure.


Economy

The largest contributor to the local economy is the
service sector The tertiary sector of the economy, generally known as the service sector, is the third of the three economic sectors in the three-sector model (also known as the economic cycle). The others are the primary sector (raw materials) and the second ...
, which provides 48.29% of the city's gross regional product and provides employment for 79.34% of the city's workforce. Meanwhile, the primary sector (which comprises agriculture and mining) only provides 2.33% of the city's gross regional product. Other significant economic areas include construction (16.29%), transportation (9.42%), finance and insurance (7.38%), and real estate (3.03%). This economic profile significantly differs from that of neighbouring regions, which still rely on agriculture and resource extraction as the primary contributor to their economies. The amount of land used for agriculture in Kupang decreased by 41% from 2018 to 2019, while the industrial sector grew by 11% in the same timeframe. Industrial facilities in the city include three cement plants operated by
PT Semen Kupang PT, Pt, or pt may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''P.T.'' (video game), acronym for ''Playable Teaser'', a short video game released to promote the cancelled video game ''Silent Hills'' * Porcupine Tree, a British progressive rock group ...
, which, in total, produce approximately 250,000 tons per year. This figure, however, has been deemed insufficient by the local government, on the grounds that the combined yearly cement needs for the province and the neighbouring country of East Timor exceed 1.8 million tons per year. This gave rise to a plan by the provincial government to take over ownership of PT Semen Kupang in 2020 in order to increase production. The city experienced deflation with an annual rate of 0.5% in 2019. The city experiences average annual inflation figures that are slightly below the national average. As of 2018, there were 31 banks in the city, with credit percentage increases of 53% in the same year, which contributed to the rapid growth of the city's financial sector. In addition, there were 4,534 trade companies registered in the city. The city experiences high economic growth, with a figure of 10% in 2019, which was significantly above the national level. In that year, the unemployment rate was 9.78%.


Governance


Administrative division

As of 2021, Kupang was divided into six districts (''kecamatan''). The table below shows the area and population of each district according to the 2020 Census and the official estimates as at mid 2021.


Local government

As is standard among Indonesian cities, Kupang is governed as a second-level administrative division, which is run by an executive branch consisting of a mayor and vice mayor, and a legislative body in the form of a city parliament. This system of government is approximately equivalent to that of a regency. The mayor, vice mayor, and members of the city parliament are elected by the population of the city. The district heads, however, are appointed directly by the mayor with the recommendation of the city secretary.


Politics

The city is coterminous with the 1st electoral district of East Nusa Tenggara province (out of a total of 8 electoral districts in the province), which sends 6 members to the 65-seat provincial parliament. The city parliament is made up of 40 representatives, which are divided into five electoral districts. This division can be seen in the table below. The last legislative election was in
2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
and the next one is scheduled to be held in 2024. As the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, the city is also home to the provincial parliament building and the governor's office.


Infrastructure


Health

As of 2021, there are 10 hospitals, 45
puskesmas Puskesmas ( id, Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat, ) are government-mandated community health clinics located across Indonesia. They are overseen by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and provide healthcare for the population on sub-district level. ...
, 15 polyclinics, and 33 pharmacies in the city. There are two international-class hospitals in the city, which are Siloam Hospital and Kupang Vertical Technical Implementation Unit Hospital. The latter is expected to become the tertiary referral hospital of East Nusa Tenggara province and the neighbouring country of East Timor after its completion in June 2022. The W. Z. Johannes Regional Public Hospital, located in Oebobo district, is owned by the city government, while army hospitals run by the
Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its ...
such as the Wirasakti Hospital (also located in Oebobo District) and the Naval Army Hospital (located in Alak District) also provide public healthcare. The city contains several
medical laboratories A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are conducted out on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Clinical Medical labor ...
, which are used for various purposes such as water and food testing, agricultural and animal health, and medical sample testing. Two biomolecular laboratories were inaugurated in 2020.


Education

The city contains 122 kindergartens, 150 elementary schools, 59 junior high schools, 42 senior high schools, 24 vocational high schools, and 16 higher education institutions. Oebobo District hosts the largest amount of schools, while Kota Lama District hosts the least. One of most notable universities in the city is the
University of Nusa Cendana The University of Nusa Cendana ( id, Universitas Nusa Cendana) is a public university in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian ...
, located in Kelapa Lima District, which is also the oldest university in the province. Other universities and higher education institutions include
Artha Wacana Christian University The Artha Wacana Christian University (UKAW or Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana) is a private university located in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and ...
,
Widya Mandira Catholic University Widyaningrum Surya Nugraha, known professionally as Widya Saputra (born February 26, 1985 in Cimahi, Indonesia), is an Indonesian TV presenter. Since 2006, she is perhaps best known as the presenter of MotoGP World Championship in Trans 7. As of A ...
, and
Kupang State Polytech of Agriculture Kupang ( id, Kota Kupang, ), formerly known as Koepang, is the capital of the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. At the 2020 C ensus, it had a population of 442,758; the official estimate as at mid 2021 was 455,850. It is the largest ci ...
.


Place of worship

As of 2021, the city contained 69 mosques, 327 churches, seven Hindu temples, and one Chinese Buddhist temple.


Transportation

As of 2021, there were a total of 1,665.93 kilometers of road within the city, of which 1,423.05 kilometers had been paved with asphalt. The city is served by El Tari International Airport, which in 2019 saw 936,159 arrivals and 992,048 departures. The main port of the city, Tenau International Port, saw 176,888 arrivals and 204,919 departures. In addition, the port also saw a total movement of 234,945 tons of goods in 2020. In September 2020, the city launched its first
bus rapid transit system Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
to improve public transportation in the city, especially for students. The BRT system, named
Trans Kota Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". Used alone, trans may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Trans (festival), a former festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom * ''Trans'' (film ...
, has four lines and operates from 08:00 to 16:00. However, this was met with opposition from owners and drivers of local share taxi services, on the grounds that a BRT system would threaten their jobs. The city is also served by app-based ride-hailing services such as Grab and Gojek.


See also

* List of colonial Residents of Dutch Timor *
History of Timor Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is divided between the sovereign states of East Timor on the eastern part and Indonesia on the western part. The Indonesian part, also ...
* List of regencies and cities of Indonesia


References


External links

* {{Authority control Populated places in East Nusa Tenggara Port cities and towns in Indonesia Provincial capitals in Indonesia Cities in Indonesia