Depok facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Depok
City
City of Depok Kota Depok
Other transcription(s)
• Sundanese	ᮓᮨᮕᮧᮊ᮪
Skyline of Depok University of Indonesia Depok City Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Kota Belimbing (Starfruit City)
Motto(s):  Paricara Darma (Servant of the righteousness)
Location within West Java
Depok Location in Java Show map of Java Depok Location in Indonesia Show map of Indonesia
Country	Indonesia
Region	Java
Province	West Java
Area
• Total	199.91 km2 (77.19 sq mi)
Elevation	93 m (305 ft)
Highest elevation	140 m (459 ft)
Lowest elevation	50 m (164 ft)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	2,145,400 (6th)
• Rank	8th
Time zone	UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Postcodes	164xx, 165xx
Area code	(+62) 21/251
Vehicle registration	B
HDI (2022)	0.819 (very high)
Website	depok.go.id

Depok is a busy city in West Java province, Indonesia. It's located just south of Jakarta, the capital city. Depok is one of the biggest cities in the Greater Jakarta area. It covers about 199.91 square kilometers.

In mid-2023, about 2,145,400 people lived in Depok. This makes it a very crowded place, with over 10,700 people living in each square kilometer! Depok became its own city on April 20, 1999. Before that, it was part of another area called Bogor Regency. It's now one of the largest suburban cities in Indonesia.

Depok's Story

The name 'Depok' might have two different origins.

How Depok Got Its Name

One idea is that the area was already called Depok when a man named Cornelis Chastelein bought the land in 1696. He was a high-ranking officer in the Dutch East India Company, a big trading company from the Netherlands. Chastelein bought a large piece of land, about 12.44 square kilometers, which is a small part of Depok today.

Besides growing plants for business, Chastelein also taught Christianity to the local people. He started a group called De Eerste Protestante Organisatie van Christenen. Some people believe the letters D.E.P.O.C. became the name Depok.

Another idea is that the name comes from an Indonesian word, padepokan. This word means 'shrine' or a place for religious study. This suggests that the area was used as a spiritual retreat before Chastelein bought it.

Freedom for Families

Before he passed away in 1714, Chastelein wrote a will. In his will, he set free the families who worked for him in Depok. He also gave them parts of his land, making them landlords (people who own land and rent it out).

On June 28, 1714, twelve families became free and owned their own land. These freed people are sometimes called the Mardijker people, which means 'free people' in Indonesian. June 28 is celebrated as Depok Day by the original Depok families.

The 12 original Depok family names are:

These families came from different backgrounds, including Balinese, Ambonese, Buginese, Sundanese, and Portuguese Indo (people of mixed European and Indonesian heritage). Some families changed their names after becoming Christian, while others kept their original names. Today, descendants of these families live in Indonesia and other countries like the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, and the United States.

Depok Becomes a City

In 1871, the government at the time gave Depok a special status. This allowed the area to have its own local government. However, this special status ended in 1952.

During a time of conflict in Indonesia (1945), many parts of Depok were damaged. Many original Depok families moved to the Netherlands during this period.

In 1982, Depok became an administrative city within Bogor Regency. Then, on April 20, 1999, Depok officially became an independent city, combining with some nearby areas of Bogor Regency. This date is now celebrated as the city's founding day.

How Depok is Run

Administration of Depok City

Depok is led by a Mayor and has a group of elected officials called a legislative assembly. Both the Mayor and the assembly members are chosen by the people through direct votes.

Mayors of Depok

• Mochammad Rukasah Suradimadja (1982–1984)
• Mochammad Ibid Tamdjid (1984–1988)
• Abdul Wachyan (1988–1991)
• Mochammad Masduki (1991–1992)
• Sofyan Safari Hamim (1992–1996)
• Badrul Kamal (1997–2005)
• Nur Mahmudi Ismail (2006–2016)
• Mohammad Idris (2016–present)

City Districts

The city of Depok is divided into eleven smaller areas called districts (kecamatan). Each district has several urban villages (kelurahan). Here's a look at them:

People of Depok

Depok is home to many different groups of people, known as ethnic groups.

Ethnic Groups in Depok

Lenggang Nyai dance of Betawi people.

Based on information from the year 2000, most people in Depok belong to the Betawi, Javanese, and Sundanese ethnic groups. There are also many people from Sumatran groups, like the Batak and Minangkabau.

The mix of these groups makes Depok rich in different cultures and traditions. The native Betawi people of Depok and some Sundanese people are considered the original inhabitants of the city.

Here's a breakdown of the population by ethnic group from the 2000 census:

Languages Spoken

Map showing where Sundanese language is spoken in Depok.      Majority speakers      Minority speakers

In some parts of Depok, like Leuwinanggung and Cimpaeun villages in Tapos district, most people speak Sundanese. You can also hear Sundanese spoken in other districts such as Cimanggis and Cilodong.

Fun Things to Do in Depok

Depok has many places for shopping, eating, and having fun!

Shopping and Food

Depok has many modern shopping malls and traditional markets. Some popular malls include ITC Depok, Depok Town Square (DeTos), Margo City, and Pesona Square. You can find many local restaurants and international food chains here too.

Some of the main shopping centers are:

• ITC Depok
• Depok Town Square
• Margo City
• Pesona Square
• D'mall Depok
• Depok Town Center
• City Plaza Depok
• Cinere Mall
• Cinere Bellevue Mall
• Cimanggis Square
• Trans Studio Mall Cibubur
• The Park Sawangan shopping mall

For a more traditional shopping experience, you can visit markets like Pasar Depok Baru, Pasar Depok Lama, Pasar Kemiri, and Pasar Agung.

Parks and Play Areas

Depok has great parks for sports and relaxation.

• Alun Alun Depok (Depok Square) has basketball courts, futsal fields, a skateboard area, a wall climbing spot, a BMX arena, and a children's playground.
• Godongijo Conservation and Education Park lets kids and teachers learn about nature up close.
• Other fun parks include Depok Fantasi Waterpark, Taman Pemuda Pratama, and Pondok Zidane.

Learning in Depok

Depok is a great place for education, with several universities and language schools.

Universities

• University of Indonesia
• Gunadarma University
• Jakarta State Polytechnic
• International Islamic University of Indonesia

Language Schools

You can find many private language schools in Depok, such as EF English First, International Language Programs (ILP), and The British Institute (TBI). Most of these are located along the main roads like Margonda Raya and Cinere Raya. There are also many Islamic junior high schools (Madrasah Tsanawiyah) in the city.

Sports in Depok

Mahakam Stadium, home of Persikad Depok

Depok is home to two football teams: Persikad Depok and Dejan FC. They both play in Liga 3, which is a football league in Indonesia.

Getting Around Depok

Depok has many ways to travel, from local transport to connections to other cities.

Toll Roads

Toll roads are special highways where you pay a fee to use them. They help you travel faster between cities.

Public Transport

Depok Station

• Angkot are small public vans and are the main way to get around Depok.
• Go-Jek and Grab are popular ride-sharing services that are easy to find.
• Taxicabs are also available.
• Depok is connected to other parts of Greater Jakarta by train services like KRL Commuterline, TransJakarta buses, and the Jabodebek LRT (Light Rail Transit).
• Train stations in Depok include Depok Lama, Depok Baru Station, Universitas Indonesia Station, Pondok Cina Station, and Citayam Station.
• Commuter trains and light rail are widely used to travel to Jakarta city center and other areas. They can be very crowded during busy times.

Airports Near Depok

Depok is served by two main airports for air travel:

• Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
• Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport

There is also Pondok Cabe Airport nearby, but it doesn't have regular flights.

Sister Cities

Depok has a special friendship with another city in the world. This is called a "sister city" relationship.

• Ōsaki, Japan

See also

In Spanish: Depok para niños