Buton Regency Explained

Official Name:Buton Regency
Native Name:Kabupaten Buton
Native Name Lang:id
Type:Regency
Coordinates:-5.1586°N 121.9308°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Indonesia
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Southeast Sulawesi
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Pasarwajo
Leader Title:Regent
Leader Name:La Bakry
Leader Title1:Vice Regent
Leader Name1:vacant
Area Total Km2:1647.87
Population As Of:mid 2023 estimate
Population Total:120873
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Footnotes:[1]
Timezone1:ICST
Utc Offset1:+8
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:(+62) 402
Pushpin Map:Indonesia_Sulawesi#Indonesia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Sulawesi and Indonesia
Pushpin Label Position:right

Buton Regency (Kabupaten Buton) is a regency of Indonesia's Southeast Sulawesi Province, lying entirely on Buton Island. Until 2014 it had an area of 2,681.22 km2, and a population estimated at 276,944 (for January 2014). However, in 2014 it was divided into three regencies, with two new regencies being cut out of it; the residual area now is 1,647.87 km2, and the districts in that area contained a population of 94,388 at the 2010 Census[2] while the 2020 Census produced a total of 115,207;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 120,873[4] The capital is nominally at Pasarwajo, but the regency's administration is actually undertaken in the city of Baubau on the south-west of the island, although that city is administratively separate from the Regency.

Administration

The original Buton Regency was formed in 1959 with a much wider area, including most of the island districts in the south of the province, but on 21 June 2001 the town of Bau-Bau was separated out to become an independent city, and on 18 December 2003 two new regencies were formed from parts of Buton Regency - Bombana Regency to the west and Wakatobi Regency to the east. At the time of the 2010 Census, the residual Buton Regency was divided into 21 districts (kecamatan), but in 2012 it was announced that the regency was to be further split, with the southern seven districts split off to form a new Buton Selatan Regency, and seven other districts split off to form a new Buton Tengah Regency (although the latter does not contain any part of Buton Island and is situated entirely on Muna Island and Kabaena Island). This division was made effective on 24 July 2014.

The remaining seven districts are tabulated below with their areas, their populations at the 2010 Census[5] and the 2020 Census,[6] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[7] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 83 rural desa and 12 urban kelurahan), and its post code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
74.04.23 Lasalimu (a) 318.9010,29012,39513,235Kamaru15 (b) 93756
74.04.24 Lasalimu Selatan
(South Lasalimu)
147.0112,81515,20415,939Ambuau Indah1693757
74.04.27 Siontapina 248.8112,16715,62416,769Kumbewaha1193758
74.04.11 Pasarwajo 300.1337,06744,72545,959Pasarwajo22 (c) 93752
74.04.28 Wolowa 94.554,9466,1886,793Wolowa793754
74.04.29 Wabula 66.114,9896,2226,813Wabula793753
74.04.22 Kapontori (d) 472.3612,61914,84915,365Watumotobe17 (e) 93755
Totals 1,647.8794,388115,207120,873Pasarwajo95

Notes: (a) includes 6 small offshore islands. (b) including 1 kelurahan (Kamaru).
(c) comprising 9 kelurahan (Awainulu, Kahulungaya, Kambula-Bulana, Kombeli, Pasarwajo, Saragi, Takimpo, Wagola and Wasaga) and 13 desa.
(d) includes 5 small offshore islands. (e) including 2 kelurahan (Wakangka and Watumotobe).

Climate

Buton regency has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with moderate rainfall from July to October and heavy rainfall from November to June. The following climate data is for the town of Pasarwajo, the seat of the regency.

Notes and References

  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Buton Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7404)
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Buton Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7404)
  5. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Buton Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7404)