Medan Marelan
Medan Marelan is one of 21 administrative districts in the city of Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
History
In its history, Marelan was part of the Deli Sultanate, transformed into plantation land under concession rights granted by the Sultan. During this period, investors from various countries, not just the Dutch, came to Deli to establish plantations. Among these investors were individuals from the United States, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Belgium.Initially, the main commodity cultivated was tobacco, but over time, plantations expanded to include other crops such as rubber, coffee, pepper, nutmeg, palm oil, and tea.
Some of these plantations retained local names, while others adopted foreign names. One notable plantation was Maryland, which still influences the naming of areas today. According to Dirk A. Buiskool in his article, "A Plantation City on the East Coast of Sumatra 1870–1942", Maryland was one of the plantations around Medan that bore an English name.
The name Maryland itself refers to a U.S. state that was once a British colony. This name Maryland Estate eventually inspired the modern name Marelan, cementing its historical connection to the plantation era.
The use of the name Maryland, simplified into the local language as Marelan for easier pronunciation, became the name of a district in the city of Medan starting in 1992, during the tenure of Medan Mayor Bachtiar Djafar. At that time, Medan Marelan District was established as a new district.
The legal basis for this was Government Regulation No. 35 of 1992, enacted on July 13, 1992. The regulation outlined the establishment of 18 new districts in North Sumatra Province. In the city of Medan, the newly established districts were Medan Marelan and Medan Perjuangan.
Geography
of the district :- To the north: Medan Kota Belawan
- To the southeast: Medan Deli
- To the east: Medan Labuhan
- To the west and southwest: Deli Serdang Regency
Demographics
In mid-2024, Medan Marelan District had a population of 197,627, showcasing diverse religious beliefs. The majority practiced Islam, with 178,131 people, followed by 9,313 people identifying as Christians and 8,935 as Buddhists. Catholics accounted for 1,006 people, while 188 practiced Hinduism. Additionally, 52 people identified as Confucianists, and two adhered to the traditional belief system of Kepercayaan terhadap Tuhan Yang Maha Esa. This diversity reflects the harmonious coexistence of various faiths within the district.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of kelurahan | Area in km2 | Pop'n Estimate mid 2023 | Post code |
| 12.71.12.1001 | Labuhan Deli | 5.27 | 20,052 | 20254 |
| 12.71.12.1002 | Rengas Pulau | 8.61 | 72,593 | 20255 |
| 12.71.12.1003 | Terjun | 8.57 | 47,997 | 20256 |
| 12.71.12.1004 | Tanah Enam Ratus | 3.30 | 38,853 | 20245 |
| 12.71.12.1005 | Paya Pasir | 4.19 | 16,242 | 20250 |
| 12.71.12 | Totals | 29.94 | 195,737 |