Ponorogo Regency
Ponorogo Regency is an inland regency of East Java Province of Indonesia. It is considered the birthplace of Reog Ponorogo, a traditional Indonesian dance form. The regency covers an area of, and it had a population of 855,281 at the 2010 census and 949,318 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 979,008. The capital of the kabupaten is the local town of Ponorogo located around south of the city of Madiun and south of the town of Ngawi.
Geography
Ponorogo Regency is located in the southwestern part of the province of East Java on the border with Central Java province. It lies approximately south-west of Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java. The regency lies between above sea level and covers an area of about.History
According to Babad Ponorogo history, Ponorogo was founded when Bathoro Katong conquered the Wengker region. This region had previously been controlled by Suryo Ngalam Wengker. Initially, Bathoro Katong settled in modern-day Pekalongan, specifically in the village of Setono within the Jenangan District. Despite facing numerous challenges, Raden Katong, Aji Selo, and Ki Ageng Mirah and his family persevered in establishing settlements in the region.With the consent of all parties, Bathoro Katong established the Duchy of Ponorogo on 11 August 1496. This date is commemorated as the founding of Ponorogo, supported by ancient artifacts, including a pair of stone gilangs situated in front of the fifth gate of the Katong Batara tomb complex. The gilang depicts a human meditating, trees, an eagle, and elephants. These elements collectively symbolize the Saka year 1496.
Economy
Ponorogo Regency is one of the fastest-growing regencies in East Java. To improve irrigation and economy, a new "Bendo Dam" was built and officially opened in September 2021.Administrative districts
The regency is divided into twenty-one districts, tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and 2020 census, together with the official estimates as of mid 2024. The districts all have the same names as their administrative centres. The table also includes the number of administrative villages in each district, and its postal codes.| Kode Wilayah | Name of District | Area in km2 | Pop'n census 2010 | Pop'n census 2020 | Pop'n estimate mid 2024 | No. of villages | Post codes |
| 35.02.02 | Ngrayun | 172.92 | 55,416 | 59,788 | 62,504 | 11 | 63464 |
| 35.02.01 | Slahung | 96.62 | 49,267 | 53,356 | 54,953 | 22 | 63463 |
| 35.02.03 | Bungkal | 58.91 | 34,240 | 38,161 | 39,633 | 19 | 63462 |
| 35.02.04 | Sambit | 60.48 | 35,566 | 39,629 | 41,281 | 16 | 63474 |
| 35.02.05 | Sawoo | 128.49 | 54,696 | 60,856 | 63,229 | 14 | 63475 |
| 35.02.06 | Sooko | 53.36 | 21,767 | 23,920 | 24,736 | 6 | 63482 |
| 35.02.21 | Pudak | 64.92 | 8,893 | 9,164 | 9,610 | 6 | 63418 |
| 35.02.07 | Pulung | 133.24 | 45,993 | 51,579 | 53,506 | 18 | 63481 |
| 35.02.08 | Mlarak | 32.09 | 36,138 | 35,044 | 36,155 | 15 | 63472 |
| 35.02.10 | Siman | 44.31 | 41,655 | 48,053 | 48,574 | 18 | 63471 |
| 35.02.09 | Jetis | 23.45 | 29,049 | 31,216 | 32,231 | 14 | 63473 |
| 35.02.11 | Balong | 59.73 | 41,565 | 47,052 | 48,704 | 20 | 63461 |
| 35.02.12 | Kauman | 33.55 | 40,015 | 46,419 | 47,722 | 16 | 63451 |
| 35.02.20 | Jambon | 59.64 | 38,929 | 45,773 | 48,322 | 13 | 63456 |
| 35.02.13 | Badegan | 58.05 | 29,082 | 33,015 | 34,555 | 10 | 63455 |
| 35.02.14 | Sampung | 82.51 | 35,845 | 39,843 | 40,860 | 12 | 63454 |
| 35.02.15 | Sukorejo | 58.39 | 49,564 | 57,586 | 59,678 | 18 | 63453 |
| 35.02.17 | Ponorogo | 23.02 | 74,379 | 76,692 | 77,297 | 19 | 63411 - 63419 |
| 35.02.16 | Babadan | 44.38 | 62,615 | 70,412 | 70,982 | 15 | 63491 |
| 35.02.18 | Jenangan | 68.08 | 51,508 | 60,688 | 62,646 | 17 | 63492 |
| 35.02.19 | Ngebel | 62.48 | 19,099 | 21,072 | 21,830 | 8 | 63493 |
| Totals | 1,418.62 | 855,281 | 949,318 | 979,008 | 307 |
Notes: including 2 kelurahan.
all 19 are urban kelurahan.
including 3 kelurahan.
including 2 kelurahan.
Ponorogo town
Ponorogo District is composed of 18 urban villages, listed below with their areas and their populations as at mid 2023.| Kode Wilayah | Name of kelurahan | Area in km2 | Pop'n estimate mid 2023 | Post codes |
| 35.02.17.1001 | Paju | 1.85 | 3,981 | 63415 |
| 35.02.17.1002 | Brotonegaran | 1.59 | 5,059 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1003 | Pakunden | 0.73 | 3,053 | 63416 |
| 35.02.17.1004 | Kepatihan | 1.18 | 4,624 | 63416 |
| 35.02.17.1005 | Surodikraman | 1.09 | 5,592 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1006 | Purbosuman | 2.20 | 6,341 | 63417 |
| 35.02.17.1007 | Tonatan | 1.18 | 6,243 | 63418 |
| 35.02.17.1008 | Bangunsari | 0.75 | 4,769 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1009 | Taramarum | 0.09 | 1,287 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1010 | Kauman | 0.58 | 2,749 | 63414 |
| Kode Wilayah | Name of kelurahan | Area in km2 | Pop'n estimate mid 2023 | Post codes |
| 35.02.17.1011 | Tambakbayan | 0.74 | 3,166 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1012 | Pinggirsari | 0.69 | 1,834 | 63419 |
| 35.02.17.1013 | Mangkujayan | 2.24 | 8,870 | 63413 |
| 35.02.17.1014 | Banyudono | 0.90 | 4,936 | 63411 |
| 35.02.17.1015 | Nologaten | 0.71 | 5,026 | 63411 |
| 35.02.17.1016 | Cokromenggalan | 1.07 | 4,115 | 63411 |
| 35.02.17.1017 | Keniten | 2.77 | 9,833 | 63412 |
| 35.02.17.1018 | Jingglong | 0.64 | 1,756 | 63411 |
| 35.02.17.1019 | Beduri | 1.29 | 2,888 | 63412 |
| 35.02.17 | Totals | 25.83 | 86,122 |
Culture
Ponorogo town, generally considered the birthplace of Reog, is also known by the names City Reog and City Rasta. Each year in the Islamic month of Muharram, Ponorogo holds a celebration known as Grebeg Suro, "the party of the people". Grebeg Suro involves many traditional events such as the National Reog Festival, the Heritage Carnival, and the Larungan Proceedings of Prayer held at Lake Ngebel.On 11 August, the anniversary of the founding of the Ponorogo Regency is celebrated. The day marks 11 August 1496, when Bathara Katong, the first leader of Ponorogo, went from the Old Town to the new Town of Ponorogo and crowned himself the first Duke of Ponorogo.
Ponorogo is also known for its culinary specialties such as Sate Ponorogo.
Education
Educational institutions in Ponorogo range from pre-school and kindergarten to university.Pre-school and kindergarten facilities are mainly provided by private or religious institutions and are available in almost every village. Elementary schools are run by public and private institutions. There is at least one public elementary school in every village and some villages have more than one public elementary school.
There are a number of both junior and senior high schools in Ponorogo. High schools exist in every district. In addition to senior high schools, students can study at vocational high schools. Ponorogo also has several universities which are mostly run by private or religious institutions. There are three public universities, Akademi Komunitas Negeri Ponorogo, Akademi Keperawatan Pemkab Ponorogo, and IAIN Ponorogo. There are also many Islamic boarding schools, including the Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor located in the village of Gontor in the Mlarak District.