Lhokseumawe City

Lhokseumawe is a city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. This city is located right in the middle of the eastern route of Sumatra. Located between Banda Aceh and Medan, this city is a crucial distribution and trade route in Aceh. In 2021, the population of the city of Lhokseumawe is 190,903 people with a density of 1,054 people/km².

Google Map: https://bit.ly/3ub8l85

Lhokseumawe City, Aceh, with a height of 2-24 meters above sea level has an area of ​​181.06 km² which is divided into 4 sub-districts, namely Blang Mangat District with an area of ​​56.12 km², Muara Dua District with an area of ​​57.80 km², District Muara Satu has an area of ​​55.90 km² and Banda Sakti District has an area of ​​11.24 km². These four sub-districts consist of 9 settlements and 68 villages/gampong.

History
Etymologically Lhokseumawe comes from the customized structure of Lhok and Seumawe. In the Acehnese language, Lhok can mean deep, bay, sea trough, and Seumawe means swirling water or the center of a spring in the sea along the coast of Banda Sakti and its surroundings. The existence of this area cannot be separated from the emergence of the Samudera Pasai Kingdom around the 13th century, then this area became part of the sovereignty of the Aceh Sultanate since 1524.

Colonial Age
Some residents still refer to Lhokseumawe as Petro Dollar City, following the heyday of Mobil Oil, PT Arun, and a number of other essential projects in Lhokseumawe. This area has played its role since the emergence of the Samudera Pasai Kingdom around the 13th century. Lhokseumawe continued to play an important role when it became part of the sovereignty of the Sultanate of Aceh since 1524, the colonial period and the war of independence.

The important role of Lhokseumawe City in Aceh's history can be seen from the many historical sites (from the 11th-20th centuries AD) throughout the city which oversees these five sub-districts. Among them, the gallows or the place where Teuku Chik Di Tunong was executed, the Japanese Army Fort, the Tomb of Teungku Lhokseumawe, Eat Tgk Chik Ditunong.

Dutch cannon, Monument of Resistance of Indonesian Army against Dutch Army, Tomb of Putro Neng, Tomb of Tgk Shia Hudam. Ibrahim Tapa Cave, Cot Bukulah, Japanese Cave, Tgk Chik Di Paloh Tomb, Tgk Jrat Meuindram Tomb, Tgk Chik Buket Bruek Krueng Tomb, Ule Balang Traditional House, TKR Monument against the Japanese Army, Tgk Abdul Jalil Cot Plieng Shahid Monument and the tomb of his soldiers, Mon Tujoh, Tomb of Mualim Taufiq Shaleh, Tomb of Tgk Batee Meutarah, and Tgk well area in Mon Lhok.

Unfortunately, not much effort has been made to preserve these historical sites. In fact, if managed professionally and packaged in an attractive manner, all these historical sites can be an attraction for tourists to visit Lhokseumawe City. A number of references also suggest that the (historical) tourism sector will provide income in the long term, compared to the exploitation of natural products. It only takes will and innovation for us to manage the legacy of the past.

Before the 20th century, this country was ruled by Uleebalang Kutablang. In 1903, after the resistance of the Acehnese fighters against the Dutch colonialists weakened, Aceh began to be controlled and colonized by the Dutch. Lhokseumawe became a conquered area and from then on the status of Lhokseumawe became Bestuur Van Lhokseumawe with Zelf Bestuurder was Teuku Abdul Lhokseumawe who was subject to Aspiran Controeleur. In Lhokseumawe, the Wedana and Assistant Residents or Regents are also domiciled.

In the second decade of the 20th century, among all mainland Aceh, Lhokseumawe City as one of the small islands with an area of ​​about 11 km² separated by the Krueng Cunda River was filled with buildings of the General Government, Military, and Railway Transportation by the Dutch Government. This small island with the villages (Gampong) of Keude Aceh Village, Java Village, Kutablang Village, Mon Geudong Village, Teumpok Teungoh Village, Hagu Village, Uteuen Baby Village, and Ujong Blang Village, all of which have a population of only 5,500 people, are collectively called Lhokseumawe. Building after building filled the land until an embryonic city was formed, which had a port, market, programming interface train station and offices of government agencies.

Period of Independence Since the Proclamation of Independence, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has not been formed systemically until this sub-district. At first Lhokseumawe was merged with Bestuurder Van Cunda. The population of this land is increasingly crowded from surrounding areas such as Buloh Blang Ara, Matangkuli, Blang Jruen, Lhoksukon, Nisam, Cunda and Pidie.

In 1956, with the Emergency Law Number 7 of 1956, autonomous districts were formed within the scope of the North Sumatra Province, one of which was North Aceh with its capital city Lhokseumawe.

In 1964, by Decree of the Governor of the Special Region of Aceh Number 34/G.A/1964 dated November 30, 1964, stipulates that the Banda Sakti settlement within the Muara Dua sub-district is made a separate sub-district under the name Banda Sakti sub-district.

Based on Law Number 5 of 1974 concerning the Principles of Regional Government, the status of Lhokseumawe has the opportunity to be upgraded to an Administrative City. On August 14, 1986, with Regional Regulation Number 32 of 1986, the establishment of the Administrative City of Lhokseumawe was signed by President Soeharto, and inaugurated by the Minister of Home Affairs Soeparjo Roestam on August 31, 1987. With this, by law and true Lhokseumawe has become a City Administratively with an area of ​​253.87 km² which includes 101 villages and 6 sub-districts spread over five sub-districts, namely: Banda Sakti District, Muara Dua District, Dewantara District, Muara Batu District, and Blang Mangat District.

Since 1988 the idea of ​​increasing the status of Kotif Lhokseumawe to become a Municipality began to be pursued so that Law Number 2 of 2001 concerning the Establishment of the City of Lhokseumawe on June 21 2001 signed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid, whose territory includes three sub-districts, namely: Banda Sakti District, Muara Dua District , and Blang Mangat District.

In 2006, Mura Dua sub-district underwent division into Muara Dua and Muara Satu sub-districts, bringing the total number of sub-districts in Lhokseumawe City to four sub-districts.

City Icon
The Islamic Center Mosque is a place of worship for the majority of Muslims in Lhokseumawe City. The building covering an area of ​​16,475 m2 which is dominated by golden color is the grandest mosque in Lhokseumawe City. Its strategic location is in the city center, precisely on Jalan T. Hamzah Bendahara Simpang Empat Lhokseumawe. Making this mosque a mainstay destination when visiting Lhokseumawe City. No wonder this mosque is always crowded with visitors to worship.

Google Map: https://bit.ly/3JIwZUp

Culinary
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas by and Frank Carney. The company is known for its menu of Italian-American cuisine, including pizza and pasta, as well as side dishes and desserts. Pizza Hut had 18,703 restaurants worldwide as of December 31, 2019, making it the largest pizza chain in the world in terms of location. It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., one of the largest restaurant companies in the world and now opens a branch in Lhokseumawe City, to be precise on Jl. Merdeka No.1, Simpang Empat, Banda Sakti, Lhokseumawe City, Aceh

Google Map: https://bit.ly/3qlymAm

Besides Pizza Hut, there is also a Local Cafe which is currently a place for young people to relax in Lhokseumawe City, namely Petro Dollar Coffeeatery & Roastery which is located next to Pizza Hut.

Google Map: https://bit.ly/3wmcitg

In addition to the 2 culinary delights above, there are also several other culinary delights, both local and national, such as KFC, Lepas Chicken, Papa Ron's Pizza and other Acehnese specialties. Curious about Lhokseumawe City? steemit friends should visit Lhokseumawe City directly so that they can feel the atmosphere of Lhokseumawe City directly, but before visiting Lhokseumawe City, don't forget to dress and behave according to Islamic law considering that Aceh is a province on the tip of Sumatra Island that enforces Islamic Shari'a. Thank you.