Gresik Regency

Thomas Stamford Raffles in his book, The History of Java, reveals that the name of Gresik comes from the word Giri Gisik, which means "mountain near the coast", referring to the hilly topography of the Gresik town center near the coast.[1]

Since the 11th century, Gresik has become an international trade center visited by many nations such as, Chinese, Arabs, Champa, and Gujarat. Gresik Regency is also the first entry point for Islam in Java, which among others is marked by the existence of ancient Islamic tombs from Sheikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim and Fatimah bint Maimun.[2] Gresik has become one of the main ports and trade cities that are quite important since the 14th century, as well as being a haven for ships from Maluku to Sumatra and mainland Asia (including India and Persia). This continued until the VOC era.[3]

The port of Gresik-Djaratan has functioned as an important commercial center since the eleventh century, trading with merchants from as far away as China, India, and Arabia. Some of these traders helped spread Islam in the area. In 1487 Sunan Giri, also known as Sultan Ainul Yaqin, began to rule Gresik. In his 1515 book, Suma Oriental, the Portuguese apothecary and traveller Tomé Pires described Gresik as "the jewel of Java in trading ports".[4] Sunan Giri's descendants ruled the area for the following two centuries.

Initially the Gresik region was part of the Surabaya Regency. In 1974, the Central Government issued PP No. 38 of 1974. All government activities began to be gradually transferred to Gresik and the name changed to Gresik Regency with a center of activity in Gresik town. Also in 1974 the Indonesian government made Gresik, now a suburb of Surabaya, part of Gerbangkertosusila Metropolitan Area, official metropolitan region by Government.[3]

The Gresik Regency was divided at 2010 into eighteen kecamatan (district), tabulated below with their 2010 Census population.[5]

• Wringinanom (65,411)
• Driyorejo (120,149)
• Kedamean (66,715)
• Menganti (119,278)
• Cerme (69,217)
• Benjeng (57,336)
• Balongpanggang (49,035)
• Duduksampeyan (43,783)
• Kebomas (106,259)
• Gresik (76,594)
• Manyar (109,949)
• Bungah (57,689)
• Sidayu (40,650)
• Dukun (54,384)
• Panceng (39,535)
• Ujungpangkah (41,828)
• Sangkapura (45,755)
• Tambak (24,475)

Sangkapura and Tambak districts together constitute the island of Bawean, lying to the north of Madura but administratively a part of Gresik Regency.

A large number of industries have established themselves in Gresik, mainly supporting agriculture and agricultural machinery. A lot of home-based industry exists, making caps (songkoks), bags, etc.

One of the largest factories in Gresik are PT. Semen Gresik (Gresik Portland Cement) and PT Petrokimia Gresik. PT. Semen Gresik, the largest cement factory in Indonesia, supplies 41% of the Indonesian market. While PT Petrokimia Gresik, the most complete fertilizer producer in Indonesia, supplies 50% of national subsidized fertilizers.

Gresik has 44-88% of humidity. The maximum humidity is 88% and the average humidity is 58%. The wind velocity of Gresik is within the range of 0–18 km/hour. The maximum wind velocity is 18 km/hour and the average is 12.6 km/hour. The temperature of this City is within the range of 23 °C-35 °C with the average temperature is 28.5 °C.

• Raffles, Thomas Stamford (1817). The History of Java. 1. Munich: Quarterly Review source from Bavarian State Library.
• Turner, Peter (1997). Java (1st edition). Melbourne: Lonely Planet. p. 341. ISBN 0-86442-314-4.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gresik Regency.

• Official Information Center of Gresik Regency
• Gresik Tourism Photo Galleries