Blora Regency

Blora (Javanese: ꦧ꧀ꦭꦺꦴꦫ) is a regency in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Blora. The regency is located in the easternmost part of Central Java, and borders the Bengawan Solo River and the East Java province.

Blora Regency

Kabupaten Blora
Regency
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Mbloro (Javanese language)
Blora (Indonesian)
Motto(s): 
Sasana Jaya Kerta Bumi and MUSTIKA (Maju, Unggul, Sehat, Tertib, Indah, Kontinyu, Aman)
(Advanced, Superior, Healthy, Beautiful, Continuous, Secure)
Country Indonesia
Province Central Java
Incorporated (regency)11 December 1749
CapitalBlora City
Government
 • RegentDjoko Nugroho
 • Vice RegentArief Rohman
 • Chairman of the Regional Representatives CouncilBambang Susilo
Area
 • Total1,704.53 km2 (658.12 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)[1]
 • Total925,642
 • Density540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (WIB)
Area code(s)+62 296
Websiteblorakab.go.id

Etymology

According to a folklore, the word Blora derived from the word belor which means mud. It then evolved into mbeloran, then blora.[2]

The word Blora literally means low, watery ground. It was derived from the word wai and lorah combined (wailorah), which means water and cliff, respectively. In the Javanese language, the W and B alphabet are often switched. So, after a while, wailorah became bailorah, then bailora, and then finally blora.[2]

History

Duchy of Jipang

Blora was under the administration of the Duchy of Jipang in the 16th century, which was itself still ruled by the Demak Sultanate at the time. The duke of the duchy was Arya Penangsang, better known as Aria Jipang. The area under control of the duchy include Pati, Lasem, Blora, and Jipang. But, after Jaka Tingkir (Hadiwijaya) inherited the throne, the capital was moved into Pajang. After that, Blora was under the Kingdom of Pajang.[3]

Mataram Kingdom

The Duchy of Jipang did not rule for long, because it was seized by the Mataram Kingdom. Blora was in the eastern part of the kingdom (Bang Wetan). During the reign of Pakubuwono I (1704-1719), Blora was given to his son, Pangeran Blitar, and appointed him as a duke. The area of Blora at that time was 22.5 km2. In 1719–1727, the Mataram Kingdom was led by Amangkurat IV, so Blora was under Amangkurat IV's rule.[3]

War of Mangkubumi

When Mataram was under the administration of Pakubuwono II (1727-1749), there was a rebellion led by Mangkubumi and Mas Sahid, Mangkubumi succeeded in controlling Sukawati, Grobogan, Demak, Blora, and Yogyakarta. Finally, Mangkubumi was appointed by the people to be a king in Yogyakarta.[3]

Incorporated as a regency

From the Pajang era to the Mataram era, Blora Regency was an important area for kingdoms. This was because Blora was known for its teak forests. News from Babad Giyanti and Serat Kuntharatama stated that Mangkubumi became a king on 11 December 1749, the day Blora Regency was created. Along with the appointment of Mangkubumi as a king, other officials were also appointed. The leader of the Mangkubumen warriors, Wilatikta, was appointed as the first regent of Blora. Blora's status changed from apanage into a regency on that same day.[3]

Sultanate of Surakarta

The War of Mangkubumi ended with the Giyanti agreement, in 1755, which was known as palihan negari, because with this agreement, Mataram was divided into two kingdoms, the Surakarta Sultanate under Paku Buwana III, and Yogyakarta, under Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. In the now-divided kingdom, Blora was in the Surakarta Sultanate as part of the Mancanegara Timur area. However, the regent of Wilatikta did not agree to join the sultanate, so he chose to resign from his position.[3]

Dutch East Indies

Resistance by the people against the Dutch, which was pioneered by the peasants, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was caused by the worsening social and economic conditions of the rural population at that time. In 1882, the head tax imposed by the Dutch was very burdensome for land owners (farmers). In other areas in Java, tax increases have led to peasant revolts, such as the Cilegon incident in 1888.[3] Two years later, a mystical religious sect, Saminism, rose from the Randublatung region in Blora and Bojonegoro Regency in 1890,[2] and gained prominence in the early 20th century. Headed by a Javanese peasant, Surontiko Samin, it followed the teachings of the Islamic prophet Adam, but owed little to the religion.[4] Stressing the village structure, mysticism, and sexuality, it became an early protest movement, and was opposed to the local rulers as much as it was against the Dutch East Indies colonial administration, refusing to pay the new Dutch head tax.[4] After 1907, many followers were detained and arrested by the Dutch.[2] The movements survived until the 1960s.[4]

Geography

The regency has an area of 1,704.53 km2 (658.12 sq mi). Blora Regency consists of both lowland and hilly areas between 20–280 meters high above sea level. The northern part of the regency is a hilly area that forms a series of Northern Limestone Mountains as well as in the southern area (Kendeng Mountains) that stretches from east of Semarang to Lamongan (East Java). The capital of Blora Regency is located right on the slope of the Northern Limestone Mountains.[5]

Half of the Blora Regency are forests, especially on the northern, eastern and southern region while the central lowland is mainly used for agricultural purposes (rice fields). During the dry season, most of Blora Regency has a water supply shortage, either for drinking or irrigation, especially in limestone and mountainous areas. In the rainy season, several areas are prone to landslides.[5]

Adjacent regencies

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1961507,375—    
1971567,091+11.8%
1980696,523+22.8%
1990767,228+10.2%
2000826,229+7.7%
2005827,587+0.2%
2010829,728+0.3%
2015851,841+2.7%
2019925,642+8.7%
Source: [6][7][8][9][10][11][1]

Blora Regency had a population of 925,642 in 2019,[1] an increase of 73,801 since the 2015 census.[11] Almost all of the population is Muslim (98%).[12] The gender ratio in 2019 is 96.85 (males per 100 females).[13]

Administrative districts
Regent of Blora, Raden Toemenggoeng Ario Said, during colonial period. June 5, 1921.

Blora Regency is divided into 16 districts or kecamatan, 271 rural villages or desa, and 24 city villages or kelurahan.[14] Before the division in the 2000s, Blora Regency (at that time the Blora Level II District) was divided into an administrative city, five regent assistants, 19 (nineteen) sub-districts, nine sub-district representatives, 429 rural villages or desa, and 26 city villages or kelurahan.

Blora's districts (Kecamatan)
District Area
in
km2[14]		 Population
Census
2010		 Population
estimate
2019[1]		 Population
density
(per km2)
Banjarejo 103.522 56,907 65,454 632.3
Blora (town) 79.786 90,714 96,522 1,209.8
Bogorejo 49.505 23,548 25,860 522.4
Cepu 49.145 72,146 78,175 1,590.7
Japah 103.052 33,321 37,224 361.2
Jati 183.621 45,177 51,923 282.8
Jepon 107.724 58,940 65,252 605.7
Jiken 168.167 37,369 39,793 236.6
Kedungtuban 106.858 54,220 60,555 566.7
Kradenan 109.508 38,721 42,816 391.0
Kunduran 127.983 61,972 70,245 548.9
Ngawen 100.982 55,950 64,416 637.9
Randublatung 211.130 73,969 81,457 385.8
Sambong 88.750 24,933 29,070 327.5
Todanan 128.739 57,013 66,837 519.2
Tunjungan 101.815 44,828 50,043 491.5
Totals 1,704.530 829,728 925,642 543.0

Transportation
Ngloram Kapuan Airfield
Location of Ngloram Kapuan Airfield.

Blora was passed by an inter-province road, connecting Semarang, the capital of Central Java, to Surabaya, the capital of East Java via Purwodadi. It's actually the 2nd class road, because most people prefer Semarang-Surabaya via Rembang, due to the wider road there.

Blora was also situated on a southern railway connection that linked to most big cities in Java. However, Blora's main train station is located in Cepu sub-district. Therefore, people often referred the Cepu train station. Except for the two above, Blora is just like any other regencies in Java, which has a local public transportation such as: bemo, becak, etc.[15]

Ngloram (Kapuan) Domestic Airport is at Ngloram (Kapuan), Cepu District with a 900 meter long runway, located at 7°11′41″S 111°32′51″E, built in 1978, but officially closed in 1980.[16] In 2013, expansion and land acquisition was still in progress.[17] Six years after that, the airport reactivation plan was started.[18]

Economy

Agriculture is the main sector of the economy. In the forestry sub-sector, Blora is one of the main producers for high quality teak wood in Java.[19]

The Cepu area has long been known as an area full of petroleum, which has been exploited since the Dutch East Indies era.[20] Blora received international attention in 2001 when oil reserves of about 250 million barrels were discovered in Cepu.[21] In March 2006, the contract between the government and contractors (PT. Pertamina EP Cepu, Exxon Mobil Cepu Ltd, and PT Ampolex Cepu) was signed, and Exxon Mobil Cepu Ltd.) was appointed as the field operator, in accordance with the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) of the three contractors. According to the latest developments, the Banyu Urip Field Plan of Development (POD) has been approved by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.[22]

Even though Blora is known for its teak forests and petroleum, which have been managed since the Dutch colonial era to the current Indonesian government, the economy of Blora is one of the poorest in Central Java. The ubiquitous natural resources in the regency are not able to raise the standard of living of its people. This is because all of the natural resources benefits the central government and company employees, most of which are outside Blora, without a clear program to improve the economy of the local people.

Places of interest
  • Terawang Cave at Todanan district.
  • Kantor Pelayanan Pajaka Pratama
  • Cepu Forest Railway or Cepu Loko Tour with some Berliner Maschinenbau steam locomotives from Berlin, Germany, Central Europe at Ngelo, Cepu district.
  • Tempuran reservoir in Blora City
  • Greneng reservoir in Tunjungan
  • Blora City Park in Blora City
  • Sarbini Park or Water Splash in Blora City
  • Tirtonadi Park in Blora City
  • Sculpture Satay Park in Gagaan Village, Kunduran District
  • Thousand Lights Park in Cepu City
  • Samin Village in Klopodhuwur Village, Kunduran District
  • Bentolo reservoir in Todanan
  • Randhakuning reservoir in Muraharjo Village, Kunduran District
  • Spring vegetables in Soko Village
  • Pencu Hill in Bogorejo District
  • Manggir Mountain in Ngumbul Village

Culture

Arts & festivals

Barongan Gembong Amijoyo is carried out in village and family agendas, such as sedekah bumi. It is performed either with storyline and without storyline.[23]

Tayub Blora is often held in various agendas in Blora. It was usually held at weddings. In addition, Tayub Blora is also often performed in annual village agendas. To preserve the culture of Blora, the local government held the Tayub Nusantara Festival at Tirtonadi Blora Park.[23]

Kadrohan or Terangan in Blora comes from districts that have a strong santri culture. It is growing rapidly in Blora and Ngawen subdistrict. It is usually performed to fill recitation events, circumcisions and weddings. There are two types of Kadrohan, traditional and modern. Traditional hadro does not use melodic instruments. In the middle of the performance, the narration of Berjanjen or Manaqib Syeh Abdul Qodir Jailani is usually read.[23]

Karawitan is a traditional music that is often performed at weddings. The purpose is to entertain guests at weddings with Javanese music. The main instrument is a set of gamelan.[23]

Notable people

References
  1. "Badan Pusat Statistik Kab. Blora". blorakab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  2. Kusuma, Ratih (2009). "KAWASAN PERMUKIMAN SUKU SAMIN SEBAGAI OBJEK WISATA BUDAYA MINAT KHUSUS DI BLORA" (PDF). Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta: 3 & 4.
  3. "Gambaran Umum - Website Pemerintah Kab Blora". www.blorakab.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  4. Turner, Peter (1997). Java (1st ed.). Melbourne: Lonely Planet. p. 315. ISBN 0-86442-314-4.
  5. "BAB II GAMBARAN UMUM" (PDF). Universitas Diponegoro: 1.
  6. "Badan Pusat Statistik". www.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  7. "Badan Pusat Statistik". www.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  8. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/pt/263261468044668076/text/multi-page.txt
  9. "Badan Pusat Statistik". www.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  10. "Badan Pusat Statistik Kab. Blora". blorakab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  11. "Indonesia: Central Java Province (Regencies and Cities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  12. "Badan Pusat Statistik Kab. Blora". blorakab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  13. "Penduduk dan Tenaga Kerja - Website Pemerintah Kab Blora". www.blorakab.go.id. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  14. "BAB II GAMBARAN UMUM" (PDF). Diponegoro University: 1.
  15. "JavaTourism.com – Java, Indonesia Travel and Tourism Information". Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  16. "Bandar Udara Ngloram". Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  17. "Pembebasan Lahan Bandara Ngloram". August 2, 2013. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  18. developer, mediaindonesia com (2019-07-31). "Blora Genjot Pembangunan Transportasi". mediaindonesia.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  19. Liputan6.com (2019-11-29). "Inovasi Produk Kayu Jati Blora Melawan Produk Jepara". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  20. Liputan6.com (2019-08-13). "Menyusuri Sejarah Industri Minyak Bumi di Blora". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  21. "ExxonMobil Will Not Receive Extension for Cepu Contract". www.rigzone.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  22. "ExxonMobil and Pertamina Sign Joint Operating Agreement for Cepu Block". www.businesswire.com. 2006-03-15. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  23. "5 KESENIAN KHAS KABUPATEN BLORA | BLORANEWS" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-10-22.

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