# Palu > administrative city in Donggala Regency, Indonesia **Wikidata**: [Q24849683](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24849683) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/palu ## Summary Palu was an administrative city (Kota Administratif) located within the Donggala Regency in Indonesia. Established on July 1, 1978, it served as the regency's capital and administrative center until it was dissolved on July 22, 1994, when it was replaced by the autonomous Kotamadya (Municipality) of Palu. ## Key Facts * **Official Name:** Kota Administratif Palu (Administrative City of Palu). * **Location:** Donggala Regency, Indonesia. * **Coordinates:** Latitude -0.8917, Longitude 119.8707. * **Elevation:** 20 meters above sea level. * **Inception Date:** July 1, 1978 (established via Government Regulation regarding the Formation of the Administrative City of Palu). * **Dissolution Date:** July 22, 1994 (abolished with the formation of the Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Palu). * **Administrative Status:** Defined as an administrative city in Indonesia and a capital of a regency. * **Capital Role:** Served as the capital of Donggala Regency until July 28, 1999, when the capital was moved to Donggala city in the Banawa district. * **Subdivisions:** Comprised two districts (Kecamatan): West Palu (Palu Barat) and East Palu (Palu Timur). * **Successor:** Replaced by the autonomous entity Palu (Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Palu). * **Identifiers:** GeoNames ID 1633034; GNS Unique Feature ID -2690443. ## FAQs **What was the administrative difference between Palu and the surrounding regency?** As an administrative city, the government of Palu was directly responsible to the government of Donggala Regency (Kabupaten Daerah Tingkat II Donggala). It was not an autonomous region initially but rather a distinct administrative unit within the regency structure until its conversion to a Kotamadya in 1994. **When did Palu stop being the capital of Donggala Regency?** Palu ceased to be the capital of Donggala Regency on July 28, 1999. Government regulations mandated the relocation of the regency's capital from the Palu city area to the city of Donggala in the Banawa district. **How was the territory of the Administrative City of Palu organized?** To maintain governmental order, the territory of the Administrative City of Palu was divided into two distinct districts: West Palu (Palu Barat) and East Palu (Palu Timur). ## Why It Matters The entity represents a critical phase in the local governance evolution of Central Sulawesi. The establishment of the Administrative City of Palu in 1978 formalized the separation of the urban area from the rural regency administration, acknowledging its growing importance as a population center. Its subsequent dissolution and replacement by an autonomous Kotamadya in 1994 marked its maturation into a self-governing municipality, separating it administratively from Donggala Regency entirely. This transition fundamentally altered the political geography of the region, creating a distinct municipal government no longer subservient to the regency. ## Notable For * **Transitional Status:** Existing as a non-autonomous administrative city for exactly 16 years and 21 days before gaining full municipal autonomy. * **Dual Role:** Functioning as an administrative city within a regency while simultaneously serving as the external capital of that same regency. * **Specific Geolocation:** Being precisely situated at an elevation of 20 meters above sea level near the equator (latitude -0.8917). ## Body ### Administrative History and Establishment The Administrative City of Palu (Kota Administratif Palu) was officially formed on July 1, 1978, through a Government Regulation concerning the Formation of the Administrative City of Palu. Unlike an autonomous city, this entity was structured to be subordinate to the Donggala Regency government. The government of the Administrative City of Palu was explicitly charged with reporting to the Government of the Second Level Region of Donggala (Kabupaten Daerah Tingkat II Donggala). The city's administrative existence concluded on July 22, 1994. With the enactment of the Law concerning the Formation of the Second Level Regional Municipality of Palu (Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Palu), the Administrative City of Palu was officially abolished. The law dictated that with the formation of the new municipality, the previous administrative city structure within Donggala Regency was deleted. ### Role as Regional Capital Despite its status as an administrative city within the regency, Palu served as the seat of government for Donggala Regency for over two decades. Historical regulations dating back to 1952 established "Palu" as the location for the government center of the Donggala region. This role continued even after the administrative city was dissolved in favor of the new municipality. It was not until July 28, 1999, that the capital of Donggala Regency was officially moved. A Government Regulation on the Transfer of the Capital of the Donggala Regency Region mandated the relocation of the seat of government from the Palu city area to the city of Donggala in the Banawa District. ### Geography and Territory The Administrative City of Palu was geographically centered at coordinates -0.8917 latitude and 119.8707 longitude, situated at an elevation of 20 meters. The territory was organized to ensure orderly governance and regional development. According to the formation regulations, the city's territory originally encompassed the Palu City District (Kecamatan Kota Palu). For the purpose of governance and regional coaching, the Administrative City was subsequently divided into two districts: * **West Palu (Palu Barat)** * **East Palu (Palu Timur)** ### External Identifiers The location is indexed in various geographical databases. It holds the GeoNames ID 1633034 and the GNS Unique Feature ID -2690443. It is also referenced in weather data systems with the OpenWeatherMap city ID 1633034. While it is classified broadly as a "large human settlement" (city), the specific historical entity described refers strictly to the administrative subdivision that existed between 1978 and 1994. ## References 1. GEOnet Names Server. 2018 2. Peraturan Pemerintah tentang Pembentukan Kota Administratif Palu. Indonesian Government Regulation Number 18 of 1978 3. Undang-Undang tentang Pembentukan Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Palu. Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 4 of 1994 4. Peraturan Pemerintah tentang Pemindahan Ibukota Daerah Kabupaten Donggala dari Wilayah Daerah Kota Palu ke Wilayah Kota Donggala Kecamatan Banawa Daerah Kabupaten Donggala. Indonesian Government Regulation Number 71 of 1999 5. Peraturan tentang pembubaran Daerah Sulawesi Tengah dan pembagian wilayahnya dalam Daerah-daerah Swatantra. Indonesian Government Regulation Number 33 of 1952 6. Undang-Undang Pembentukan Daerah-daerah tingkat II di Sulawesi. Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 29 of 1959