# Palopo

> administrative city in Luwu Regency, Indonesia

**Wikidata**: [Q26761532](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26761532)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/palopo-q26761532

## Summary
Palopo is an administrative city located in Luwu Regency, Indonesia, officially established as a "Kota Administratif" on September 17, 1986. It served as the capital of Luwu Regency from its inception until December 30, 2005, when the capital was relocated to Belopa. The city is geographically situated at an elevation of 942 meters above sea level and is administratively divided into the districts of Wara and North Wara.

## Key Facts
*   **Official Name:** Kota Administratif Palopo (Administrative City of Palopo).
*   **Inception Date:** September 17, 1986, established via Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia.
*   **Country:** Indonesia.
*   **Administrative Parent:** Located within Luwu Regency; the city government is responsible to the Government of Luwu Regency (Level II).
*   **Capital Status:** Served as the capital of Luwu Regency from July 4, 1959 (under Level II Luwu) until December 30, 2005.
*   **Capital Relocation:** The capital was moved to Kecamatan Belopa on December 30, 2005, via a specific Government Regulation.
*   **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude -2.97841, Longitude 120.11078.
*   **Elevation:** 942 meters above sea level.
*   **Geonames ID:** 1633037.
*   **GNS Unique Feature ID:** -2690440.
*   **Administrative Subdivisions:** Comprises two districts (Kecamatan): Wara and North Wara (Wara Utara).
*   **Head of Government Office:** Mayor of Palopo.
*   **Wikipedia Language:** Available in Cebuano (ceb).
*   **Historical Context:** Previously, under the 1957 Emergency Law, the Luwu regional government was seated in Palopo while Tana Toraja was in Makalo.

## FAQs
**When was Palopo established as an administrative city?**
Palopo was officially formed as an administrative city on September 17, 1986, through a Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia. This regulation defined its status as a "Kota Administratif" and outlined its administrative responsibilities to the Luwu Regency government.

**Is Palopo still the capital of Luwu Regency?**
No, Palopo ceased to be the capital of Luwu Regency on December 30, 2005. On that date, a new Government Regulation was enacted to move the regency's capital from the administrative city of Palopo to the Belopa district.

**What are the internal administrative divisions of Palopo?**
The administrative city is divided into two specific districts known as Kecamatan. These are Wara and North Wara (Wara Utara), a structure established to ensure orderly governance and regional development within the city limits.

**Where is Palopo located geographically?**
Palopo is situated in Indonesia within the Luwu Regency. It sits at an elevation of 942 meters above sea level, with precise coordinates at latitude -2.97841 and longitude 120.11078.

## Why It Matters
Palopo represents a critical node in the administrative history of South Sulawesi, serving as the primary seat of power for the Luwu region for nearly five decades. Its establishment in 1986 formalized its role as a distinct administrative entity, separating its governance structure from the broader regency while maintaining accountability to the Level II Luwu government. The city's significance is further highlighted by its transition period; it functioned as the capital from the formation of Level II Luwu in 1959 until the strategic relocation to Belopa in 2005. This shift reflects the evolving administrative needs of the region, making Palopo a historical benchmark for understanding the decentralization and urban planning dynamics of Indonesian regencies.

## Notable For
*   **Long-term Capital Status:** Served as the capital of Luwu Regency for over 46 years, from 1959 until 2005.
*   **Specific Administrative Classification:** Formally designated as a "Kota Administratif" (Administrative City), a specific tier of urban governance in Indonesia.
*   **High Elevation Urban Center:** Functions as a significant settlement at 942 meters above sea level.
*   **Dual-District Structure:** Uniquely organized into exactly two districts, Wara and North Wara, as defined by its founding regulation.
*   **Historical Continuity:** Maintained the seat of the Luwu regional government even during the 1957 Emergency Law period when Tana Toraja was separated.

## Body

### Administrative Status and Formation
Palopo operates as an administrative city within the hierarchy of Indonesian local government. It was formally created on September 17, 1986, under the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the formation of the Administrative City of Palopo. This legal instrument established the city's official name as "Kota Administratif Palopo." The regulation explicitly states that the government of this administrative city is responsible to the Government of the Level II Luwu Regency. This relationship defines its subordination and operational scope within the larger regency framework.

### Historical Role as Regional Capital
The city holds a distinct historical position as the former capital of Luwu Regency. Its tenure as the capital began with the enactment of the Law on the Formation of Level II Regions in Sulawesi on July 4, 1959, which designated Palopo as the seat of the Level II Luwu government. Prior to this, under the Emergency Law of January 17, 1957, the Luwu regional government was already seated in Palopo, while the Tana Toraja region was seated in Makalo. This status continued for decades until December 30, 2005. On this date, a new Government Regulation was issued to move the capital from the administrative city of Palopo to the Belopa district within Luwu Regency. Consequently, Palopo's role as the capital officially ended on December 30, 2005.

### Geographic and Physical Characteristics
Geographically, Palopo is located in Indonesia with precise coordinates at latitude -2.97841 and longitude 120.11078. The city is situated at a significant elevation of 942 meters above sea level, distinguishing it from lower-lying coastal settlements. It is identified in the Geonames database with the ID 1633037 and in the GNS database with the unique feature ID -2690440. These identifiers confirm its physical presence and location within global geographic information systems.

### Internal Administrative Structure
To ensure orderly governance and regional development, the territory of the Administrative City of Palopo is divided into two specific districts, known as Kecamatan. These districts are Wara and North Wara (Wara Utara). This division was mandated by Article 6 of the founding Government Regulation, which aimed to facilitate effective administration and regional guidance. The head of the local government holds the office of the Mayor of Palopo, overseeing the administration of these two districts.

### Legal and Reference Framework
The existence and status of Palopo are grounded in specific Indonesian legal documents. The primary reference is the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the Formation of the Administrative City of Palopo, which cites Article 3, Paragraph 1 for its establishment and Article 12 for its effective date of September 17, 1986. The regulation regarding the capital relocation cites Article 1 and Article 6, effective December 30, 2005. Historical context is further supported by the Law on the Formation of Level II Regions in Sulawesi (1959) and the Emergency Law regarding the dissolution of the Luwu Region and the formation of Tana Toraja and Luwu Regions (1957). These documents collectively form the legal backbone of Palopo's administrative identity.

## References

1. Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia tentang Pembentukan Kota Administratif Palopo. Indonesian Government Regulation Number 42 of 1986
2. Peraturan Pemerintah tentang Pemindahan Ibukota Kabupaten Luwu dari Wilayah Kota Palopo ke Wilayah Kecamatan Belopa Kabupaten Luwu. Indonesian Government Regulation Number 80 of 2005
3. Undang-Undang Pembentukan Daerah-daerah tingkat II di Sulawesi. Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 29 of 1959
4. Undang-undang Darurat tentang pembubaran Daerah Luwu dan pembentukan Daerah Tana Toraja dan Daerah Luwu. Indonesian Emergency Law Number 3 of 1957
5. GeoNames