Padang Panjang

Padang Panjang (sometimes written as Padangpanjang, and spelt as Padang Pandjang in Dutch East Indies era, lit. 'long field', Jawi: ), is a city located in the cool highlands of West Sumatra, inland from the provincial capital Padang. Created by Law No.12 of 1956, it is an enclave situated geographically within Tanah Datar Regency. It sits on a plateau beneath the volcanoes Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang. It has an area of 23.0 km2 and a population at the 2010 Census of 47,008 and 56,311 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 58,627 - comprising 29,461 males and 29,166 females. It is located at -0.45°N, 100.41667°W.

Home to a famous performing arts conservatorium, Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia (STSI or "Indonesian College of the Art") The town stretches up the hill from the marketplace and central mosque, to the soccer field and bus terminal on up to STSI. The main road through Padang Panjang links coastal Padang and the highland capital, Bukittinggi.

The city is also home to the Minangkabau Cultural Documentation and Information Center (Pusat Dokumentasi dan Informasi Kebudayaan Minangkabau - PDIKM).

Administrative Districts
Padang Panjang city consists of two districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and population totals from the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres and its postal codes.

Administrative villages (kelurahan)
West Padang Panjang District consists of the 8 villages of Silaing Bawah, Silaing Atas, Pasar Usang, Kampung Manggis, Tanah Hitam, Pasar Baru, Bukit Surungan and Balai-Balai. East Padang Panjang District comprises the 8 villages of Koto Panjang, Koto Katik, Ngalau, Ekor Lubuk, Sigando, Ganting, Guguk Malintang and Tanah Pak Lambik.

Town without cigarette advertisements
Since 2008, Padang Panjang is the only city in Indonesia without cigarette advertisements. In public areas, public transport, and youth facilities, smoking is prohibited. In other areas, smoking is restricted to smoking rooms. In 2014, some pulmonologists wished to transfer to other towns, because of the lack of patients.

Notable people

 * Arifin Bey, diplomat, editor, teacher, author
 * Sri Owen, food writer and cook who introduced Indonesian cuisine to the English-speaking world
 * Tommy Rifka Putra, footballer
 * Rahmah el Yunusiyah, women's education activist and member of the Indonesian parliament