History of Bontang

 In the course of history, Bontang, which was previously only a village located in a river basin, then changed its status, so that it became a city. This is a demand from a diverse and growing area.

Initially, as a residential area, Bontang had a very simple governance. At first, it was only led by an elder, with the title of Senior Officer under the auspices of the Sultan of Kutai in Tenggarong. The names of the Bontang officials are: Grandma H. ​​Tondeng, Muhammad Arsyad who was later given the title by the Sultan of Kutai as Kapitan, Kideng and Haji Amir Baida alias Bedang.

Bontang continued to grow so that in 1952 it was designated a village led by a traditional elder. At that time, the leadership was divided into two: matters relating to governance were handled by the village head, while matters relating to customs were regulated by the traditional elders. Long before it became an Administrative City area, since 1920 Bontang Village was designated as the capital of the sub-district which was then called Onder Van Bontang District which was governed by an assistant wedana with the title Kiyai. As for the Kyai who once ruled in Bontang and are still in the memory of some residents, are: Kiai Anang Kempeng, Kiai Hasan, Kiai Aji Raden, Kiai Anang Acil, Kiai Menong, Kiai Yaman and Kiai Saleh.

Before becoming a city, Bontang's status was elevated to a sub-district under the leadership of an assistant wedana in the Government of Sultan Aji Muhammad Parikesit, Sultan Kutai Kartanegara XIX (1921-1960), after the enactment of Law No. 27 of 1959 concerning the formation of a Level II Region in East Kalimantan by removing the status of the Swapraja Government.

In the original Kalimantan treasury, the word "bontang" is not known. According to a hereditary story, "bontang" is a Dutch acronym for "bond" which means collection or English which means brotherhood bond and "tang" from the word migrant. This title was given because the origin of the village of Bontang could not be separated from the role of migrants.

The origin of the name Bontang, is based on the saway book in the Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate that it was Adji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti (1300-1325) who gave the name Bontang.

There are also several puns that say that the origin of the name Bontang is the custom of its people who are Bon and owe, so that it is synonymous with Bontang.

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