Majalengka Regency

Majalengka Regency is the landlocked regencies in West Java, Indonesia. It covers an area of and had a population of 1,166,473 at the 2010 Census and 1,305,476 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2024 was 1,352,541. The administrative capital is the town of Majalengka.

WWW Official Site

History

Administrative and politics

A besluit number 23 issued on 5 January 1819 by the Commissioners-General of the Dutch East Indies formally created Maja Regency. This new regency incorporated the former Rajagaluh and Talaga regencies. The first regent appointed was Raden Adipati Denda Negara. Initially, districts of Maja were Talaga, Sindangkasih, and Rajagaluh with total area of 625 pal. Maja bordered Sumedang to the west, Cirebon and Kuningan to the east, Indramayu to the north, and Galuh and Sukapura to the south. In 1830s, districts of Maja were expanded to six: Maja, Sindangkasih, Rajagaluh, Talaga, Palimanan, and Kadongdong.
On 11 February 1840, Governor-General D. J. de Eerens enacted besluit no. 2, officially renaming Maja Regency to Majalengka Regency. The government seat, formerly located in Sindangkasih, was likewise redesignated as Majalengka. In 1862, the colonial government revised the administrative boundaries once again. Through besluit no. 4 dated 24 may 1862, the Governor-General reassigned Palimanan District to Cirebon Regency, citing its closer proximity to Cirebon's government seat compared to Majalengka's.

Socio-economics

In 1890, agricultural land covered 47,469 bau. Of this area, about 40,704 bau or 85.75% consisted of irrigated rice fields. Another 5,678 bau or 11.9% was tegalan, while the remaining 2.29% was coffee plantations.
Jatiwangi had the largest share of rice fields at 36.19%, followed by Talaga, Rajagaluh, Majalengka, and Maja. Dry fields were most extensive in Talaga, accounting for 38.76% of the total tegalan, while Rajagaluh had the smallest portion, covering 263 bau or 4.63%. Coffee cultivation was concentrated mainly in Talaga and Maja, each respectively contributed 55.29% and 32.94% totaling 959 bau or 88.22% of the coffee-growing area.
In December 1896, coffee estates employed 164,113 workers across 165 villages. By 1900, the workforce had increased by 2.92% to 168,905 people, and the number of participating villages rose to 167. Within the Cirebon Residency, Majalengka's share of the coffee labor force rose from 26.56% in 1896 to 36.67% in 1900. Its share of villages involved in coffee cultivation also increased, from 24.77% to 34.58% of all coffee-producing villages in the residency.
Between 1890 and 1902, Majalengka produced a total of 8,094 pikul of coffee. During the same period, the Cirebon Residency produced 26,062 pikul, meaning Majalengka contributed 31.06% of the residency's total output. Majalengka's production was only second to Galuh Regency which produced 8,217 pikul. Majalengka's peak production occurred in 1892 reaching 2,105 pikul while the lowest output was recorded in 1902 at 52 pikul. The highest proportional contribution to the residency's production occurred in 1894 when Majalengka supplied 47.75% of the total, while the lowest was in 1902 at 6.88%.
Sugarcane cultivation in Majalengka began in Jatitujuh following the enactment of the 1870 Agrarian Law. In 1876, the colonial administration established a sugar factory in Kadipaten, operated by a company named Suiker Fabrick. The facility was expanded in 1896, along with an increase in production capacity. In the same year, another sugar factory was opened in Sutawangi, Jatiwangi District.
By 1901, sugarcane estates were operating in three districts: Rajagaluh with 615 bau, Majalengka with 1,091 bau, and Jatiwangi with 1,163 bau. With the factories in Kadipaten and Jatiwangi, and the additional plant in Parungjaya, total sugar output reached 200,466 pikul consisting of 153,233 pikul of top-grade sugar and 47,243 pikul of second-grade ones.
In 1904, the Governor-General granted erfpacht rights over 229 bau of land in Kadipaten to J. F. Vogel, Wilemine de Vogel, and Julius Charlotte de Vogel for sugarcane plantation. In 1906, these rights were sold to NV Cultuur Maatschappij Kadipaten.
In 1885, tea plantations in Majalengka covered 368 bau, concentrated in two areas: Carenang and Pasir Buntu.
In the commerce sector, the colonial administration recorded a total salt trading volume of 53,425 pikul from 1894 to 1899. The highest sales were reported in 1894, reaching 9,202 pikul, while the lowest occurred in 1897, amounting to 8,761 pikul.
In 1900, the colonial government constructed the Jatitujuh Dam to regulate the Cimanuk River. In 1911, work began on another structure, a manually operated movable dam called Gerak Dam located about 500 meters away. It entered operation in 1916.
In the industrial sector, roof-tile production emerged in 1905 in Cikarokok, Burujul Wetan Village, Jatiwangi District. The industry initially grew slowly due to local taboos against using clay tiles. It began to expand around 1930 following the construction of colonial government housing that adopted clay roofing.
A livestock report submitted by Resident C. J. A. E. T. Hiljee on 3 June 1930 described the condition of animal husbandry in Majalengka Regency for the year 1926. The livestock raised consisted of horses, cattle, buffalo, pigs, sheep, and goats. Nearly all onderdistriks kept every type of livestock. Exceptions were noted: pigs were only raised in Liangjulang, Talaga, Cikijing, Jatiwangi, and Jatitujuh onderdistriks, while cattle were not raised in Sukahaji, Cikijing, and Leuwimunding onderdistriks.
The district with the largest number of livestock was Majalengka District recording 32,100 animals, while Rajagaluh District had the lowest count with 12,840 animals. The most common animals raised were sheep, buffalo, and goats, which together accounted for 97,627 head. Cattle were the least numerous with only 138 head. Pigs, numbering 490, were more prevalent than cattle by comparison and were concentrated primarily in Jatiwangi and Talaga to meet demand from non-pribumi residents.

Administrative districts

The Majalengka Regency consists of 26 districts ', subdivided into 13 urban villages ' and 318 rural villages '; 10 of the kelurahan are in Majalengka District, and the other three are in Cigasong District. These districts are listed below with their areas and populations at the 2010 and 2020 Census together with the official estimates as of mid 2024. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district, and their postcode.
Kode
Wilayah Name of
District
Area
in
km² Pop'n
2010
Census Pop'n
2020
Census Pop'n
mid 2024
estimate Admin
centre No.
of
villages Post
code
32.10.01 Lemahsugih 78.64 57,038 63,223 65,238 Lemahputih 19 45465
32.10.02 Bantarujeg 66.52 42,634 46,289 47,363 Babakansari 13 45464
32.10.26 Malausma 45.04 40,936 47,784 50,305 Malausma 11 45460
32.10.03 Cikijing 43.54 59,577 67,467 70,197 Sukamukti 15 45466
32.10.23 Cingambul 37.03 35,719 42,604 45,228 Cingambul 13 45467
32.10.04 Talaga 43.50 43,045 47,742 49,276 Talagakulon 17 45463
32.10.22 Banjaran 41.98 23,903 25,015 25,244 Banjaran 13 45468
32.10.05 Argapura 60.56 33,460 36,470 37,388 Sukasari Kidul 14 45462
32.10.06 Maja 65.21 48,396 52,155 53,234 Maja Selatan 18 45461
32.10.07 Majalengka
57.00 68,871 73,052 74,107 Majalengka Wetan 14 45411
- 45419
32.10.20 Cigasong 24.17 33,937 37,763 39,025 Cicenang 10 45476
32.10.08 Sukahaji 32.52 39,579 46,943 49,725 Cikalong 13 45470
32.10.25 Sindang 23.97 14,409 16,912 17,842 Sindang 7 45471
32.10.09 Rajagaluh 34.37 41,377 46,819 48,699 Rajagaluh 13 45472
32.10.21 Sindangwangi 31.76 30,290 34,315 35,709 Sindangwangi 10 45474
32.10.10 Leuwimunding 32.46 55,736 63,932 66,850 Leuwimunding 14 45473
32.10.19 Palasah 38.69 45,661 53,275 56,075 Waringin 13 45475
32.10.11 Jatiwangi 40.03 82,524 90,174 92,540 Sutawangi 16 45454
32.10.12 Dawuan 23.80 44,491 47,633 48,495 Bojongcideres 11 45453
32.10.24 Kasokandel 31.61 45,858 52,808 55,302 Kasokandel 10 45451
32.10.18 Panyingkiran 22.98 29,576 32,691 33,696 Panyingkiran 9 45459
32.10.13 Kadipaten 21.86 43,346 47,294 48,504 Heuleut 7 45452
32.10.14 Kertajati 138.36 42,263 47,578 49,390 Kertajati 14 45457
32.10.15 Jatitujuh 73.66 50,864 55,192 56,484 Jatitengah 15 45458
32.10.16 Ligung 62.25 56,328 65,770 69,247 Ligung 19 45456
32.10.17 Sumberjaya 32.73 56,655 64,576 67,358 Sumberjaya 15 45455
Total 1,204.24 1,166,473 1,305,476 1,352,541 Majalengka 343

Note: comprising 10 kelurahan and 4 desa. comprising 3 kelurahan and 7 desa.
except for the village of Banjaran, which has a postcode of 45468.
The incumbent regency officer ' of this regency is Dr. H. Karna Sobahi.

Transportation

Road

In the colonial period, Majalengka became more accessible after the Anyer Panarukan post Road was routed through the regency. The government also improved the Majalengka-Ciamis road via Cikijing.

Tram

A decree issued by the Cirebon Resident on 31 March 1900 authorized construction of a tram line from Kadipaten to Cirebon funded by sugar factories in Majalengka. Although initially designed to transport sugar, the tram later served public passengers and as military transport.

[Kertajati International Airport]

The new airport serves Bandung and West Java. The construction was started in 2015 and inaugurated in 2018 after the completion of the first phase.

Tourism

Mount Panten

In March 2012, two foreign national champion paragliders surveyed Mount Panten. Landing area, wind velocity, and mainly take-off area are suitable for paragliding world championship. The take-off area is very vast, possible to make take-off for several paragliders at the same time, and cannot be found in other countries.

Demographics

The earliest recorded census was conducted in 1829 by Cirebon Residency. The population was 132,257 people, of which 99.26% were pribumi. The remaining non-native population was dominated by the Chinese community making up 98.07% of that group. There were 32,271 households typically with two to three children each.
In 1891 census, the population was 268,805 people. In 1930, with population of 444,163 people and an area of 1,091 square kilometers, the density reached 407.12 people per square kilometer. Within the Cirebon Residency, Majalengka ranked second in density just below Cirebon Regency. At the Provincie West Java level, it place third, following Cirebon Regency and Batavia.

Year	Population
1829	132,257
1847	128,218
1867	184,782
1873	201,211
1874	202,017
1875	201,987
1876	202,022
1891	268,805
1892	273,078
1893	274,675
1894	276,960
1930	444,163

No.	District	Area	Indigenous	European	Chinese	Other Asian	Total Population	Density
1	Majalengka	215	119,441	222	1,188	121	120,972	562.66
2	Jatiwangi	460	126,275	92	1,247	224	127,838	277.91
3	Rajagaluh	159	82,201	61	557	46	82,865	521.16
4	Talaga	257	111,699	18	768	3	112,488	437.70
Total		1,091	439,616	393	3,760	394	444,163	407.12

Kode Wilayah	Name of District	Area in km²	Pop'n 2010 Census	Pop'n 2020 Census	Pop'n mid 2024 estimate	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
32.10.01	Lemahsugih	78.64	57,038	63,223	65,238	Lemahputih	19	45465
32.10.02	Bantarujeg	66.52	42,634	46,289	47,363	Babakansari	13	45464
32.10.26	Malausma	45.04	40,936	47,784	50,305	Malausma	11	45460
32.10.03	Cikijing	43.54	59,577	67,467	70,197	Sukamukti	15	45466
32.10.23	Cingambul	37.03	35,719	42,604	45,228	Cingambul	13	45467
32.10.04	Talaga	43.50	43,045	47,742	49,276	Talagakulon	17	45463
32.10.22	Banjaran	41.98	23,903	25,015	25,244	Banjaran	13	45468
32.10.05	Argapura	60.56	33,460	36,470	37,388	Sukasari Kidul	14	45462
32.10.06	Maja	65.21	48,396	52,155	53,234	Maja Selatan	18	45461
32.10.07	Majalengka	57.00	68,871	73,052	74,107	Majalengka Wetan	14	45411 - 45419
32.10.20	Cigasong	24.17	33,937	37,763	39,025	Cicenang	10	45476
32.10.08	Sukahaji	32.52	39,579	46,943	49,725	Cikalong	13	45470
32.10.25	Sindang	23.97	14,409	16,912	17,842	Sindang	7	45471
32.10.09	Rajagaluh	34.37	41,377	46,819	48,699	Rajagaluh	13	45472
32.10.21	Sindangwangi	31.76	30,290	34,315	35,709	Sindangwangi	10	45474
32.10.10	Leuwimunding	32.46	55,736	63,932	66,850	Leuwimunding	14	45473
32.10.19	Palasah	38.69	45,661	53,275	56,075	Waringin	13	45475
32.10.11	Jatiwangi	40.03	82,524	90,174	92,540	Sutawangi	16	45454
32.10.12	Dawuan	23.80	44,491	47,633	48,495	Bojongcideres	11	45453
32.10.24	Kasokandel	31.61	45,858	52,808	55,302	Kasokandel	10	45451
32.10.18	Panyingkiran	22.98	29,576	32,691	33,696	Panyingkiran	9	45459
32.10.13	Kadipaten	21.86	43,346	47,294	48,504	Heuleut	7	45452
32.10.14	Kertajati	138.36	42,263	47,578	49,390	Kertajati	14	45457
32.10.15	Jatitujuh	73.66	50,864	55,192	56,484	Jatitengah	15	45458
32.10.16	Ligung	62.25	56,328	65,770	69,247	Ligung	19	45456
32.10.17	Sumberjaya	32.73	56,655	64,576	67,358	Sumberjaya	15	45455
	Total	1,204.24	1,166,473	1,305,476	1,352,541	Majalengka	343