Sepaku
Sepaku is a district of Penajam North Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. As of 2024, it was inhabited by 41,677 people, an increase from 40,322 people in 2023 and 39,738 people in 2022, and currently has the total area of 1,172.36 km2. It was split off from Penajam on 11 June 1996. Its district seat is located at the village of Tengin Baru.
Sepaku is notable for being the site of the future national capital of Nusantara, although the local government claimed that only 10% to 20% of the current total area is being included.
Etymology
According to the website of the Sukaraja village, Sepaku is named after the abundance of ferns in that district.History
Sepaku was originally inhabited by the Balik people, who migrated from neighbouring Balikpapan.Before its establishment in its current form, Sepaku was known for being a destination for transmigrants, mostly of the Javanese ethnicity, with the land established in 1968 by a gubernatorial decree. Its settlement started on 26 August 1975 at the village of Sepaku I, and ended in 1984 at Semoi III. Along with Penajam, it was part of Balikpapan until 1987. Another transmigration programs occurred in 1991 and 1998.
On 11 June 1996, following the enactment of the government regulation number 38, Sepaku was formed from the northern parts of Penajam, along with the formation of 12 others in East and North Kalimantan. Its formation was inaugurated on 25 September 1996 by then East Kalimantan governor H.. On 5 March 1999, seven numbered villages were renamed by a gubernatorial decree, and only one currently retains its name:
- Sepaku I became Bukit Raya
- Sepaku II became Sukaraja
- Sepaku III became Tengin Baru
- Sepaku IV became Bumi Harapan
- Semoi I became Argomulyo
- Semoi III became Sukomulyo
- Semoi IV became Wonosari
Geography
Sepaku shares borders with West Balikpapan to southeast; West Samboja, Loa Janan, and Loa Kulu to the east and the north; Bongan to the northwest; Long Kali to the southwest; and Penajam to the south. The average elevation in Sepaku is 15 meters above sea level.As of 2019, dozens of rivers were listed in Sepaku:
| River name | Villages |
| Bentayan | Pemaluan |
| Biangai | Bumi Harapan |
| Daub | Mentawir |
| Kali Wangi | Sukomulyo |
| Kemantis | Mentawir |
| Larung | Binuang and Pemaluan |
| Mangkulio | Bukit Raya and Bumi Harapan |
| Miyango | Karang Jinawi |
| Muntayo | Argomulyo, Semoi Dua, and Wonosari |
| Pemaluan | Binuang, Pemaluan, and Telemow |
| Seluang | Sukaraja |
| Semoi | Sukaraja |
| Sepaku | Bukit Raya, Sukaraja, and Sepaku |
| Sepinggan | Sukomulyo |
| Tengin | Tengin Baru |
| Trunen | Bumi Harapan and Pemaluan |
Sepaku has been long prone to floods even before the establishment of Nusantara. As of mid 2023, 257 floods were recorded throughout 7 villages.
Governance
Villages
Sepaku is divided into the following 15 villages :| Regional code | Name | Area | Population | Population | RW |
| 64.09.04.2001 | Tengin Baru | 43.48 | 4,306 | 4,245 | 5 |
| 64.09.04.2002 | Bukit Raya | 185.34 | 3,119 | 3,049 | 2 |
| 64.09.04.2003 | Sukaraja | 77.38 | 4,263 | 4,123 | 5 |
| 64.09.04.2004 | Bumi Harapan | 15.00 | 2,380 | 2,322 | 2 |
| 64.09.04.1005 | Sepaku | 133.97 | 2,021 | 1,986 | |
| 64.09.04.1006 | Pemaluan | 367.18 | 1,904 | 1,834 | |
| 64.09.04.1007 | Maridan | 37.05 | 4,165 | 4,189 | |
| 64.09.04.1008 | Mentawir | 132.24 | 777 | 740 | |
| 64.09.04.2009 | Argomulyo | 36.14 | 3,387 | 3,349 | 5 |
| 64.09.04.2010 | Semoi Dua | 74.47 | 3,407 | 3,386 | 4 |
| 64.09.04.2011 | Sukomulyo | 27.11 | 2,214 | 2,166 | 3 |
| 64.09.04.2012 | Wonosari | 33.41 | 1,317 | 1,312 | 2 |
| 64.09.04.2013 | Karang Jinawi | 13.85 | 1,163 | 1,128 | 2 |
| 64.09.04.2014 | Telemow | 4.82 | 3,655 | 3,719 | 3 |
| 64.09.04.2015 | Binuang | 17.65 | 2,244 | 2,190 | 2 |
| Totals | 1,172.36 | 40,322 | 39,738 | 35 |
District heads
The following are the list of district heads of Sepaku:| # | Name | Took office | Left office |
| 1 | Baharuddin | 1997 | 2000 |
| 2 | Tasmad Hariady | 2000 | 2002 |
| 3 | Hardani Har | 2002 | 2004 |
| 4 | Suhardi | 2004 | 2005 |
| 5 | Muhammad | 2005 | 2009 |
| 6 | Nurzaman | 2009 | 2011 |
| 7 | Daman | 2011 | 2013 |
| 8 | Risman Abdul | 2013 | 20?? |
Demographics
As of 2023, Sepaku was inhabited by 40,322 people.Religion
As of 2023, by far the largest religious group in Sepaku were Muslims, followed by smaller minorities including Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, and Buddhists. Places of worships in Sepaku included 17 mosques, 30 small pray rooms, 24 Protestant churches, and a Catholic church.Education
As of 2022/2023 school year, Sepaku had 15 private kindergartens, 29 elementary schools, 8 junior high schools, a madrasah tsanawiyah, 2 senior high schools, and a private madrasah aliyah. Notable schools at Sepaku include:- SD Negeri 020 Sepaku, which was relocated from its original flood-prone location, into a new building constructed by Astra Educational Foundation — Michael D. Ruslim.
Health