[7] The city is populated by a mix of ethnic Alifuru (original Moluccans), Javanese, Balinese, Butonese, Bugis, Makassar, Papuan, Minahasa, Minang, Flobamora (Flores, Sumba, Alor and Timor ethnics) and those of foreign descent (Chinese, Arabian-Ambonese, Spanish-Ambonese, German-Ambonese, Portuguese-Ambonese and Dutch-Ambonese).

On 22 December 1902, the Apostolic Prefecture of Dutch New Guinea was established in the city, later to be promoted as the Diocese of Amboina.

Ambon Island was the site of a major Dutch naval base and was of strategic importance during WW2.

Despite formidable defenses, Ambon fell when its defenders surrendered after four days of fighting on 3 February 1942.

[10] Following the battle, Japanese forces committed numerous acts of atrocities, including the execution of over 300 Dutch and Australian POWs at Laha airfield.

[11] In 1950 Ambon was the center of an uprising against Indonesian rule, caused by the self-proclaimed Republic of the South Moluccas.

Many important buildings such as the Victoria Fort (APRMS main base) were heavily damaged during the confrontation.

On 27 April a CIA raid set fire to a military command post, a fuel dump and a Royal Dutch Shell complex.

[14] On 28 April a CIA air raid damaged an Indonesian Army barracks next to a marketplace.

[18] The Indonesian National Armed Forces reinforced Ambon City's anti-aircraft defences with a number of 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns.

[19] The Naiko was a merchant ship that the Indonesian Government had pressed into military service, and she was bringing a company of Ambonese troops home from East Java.

[20] A CIA bomb hit the Naiko's engine room, killing one crew member and 16 infantrymen[20] and setting the ship on fire.

[21] Then he flew west of the city and tried to attack one of a pair of troop ships being escorted by the Indonesian Navy.

Embarrassed, the Eisenhower administration quickly ended CIA support for Permesta and withdrew its agents and remaining aircraft from the conflict.

[24] As part of the transmigration program in the 1980s, the Suharto government relocated many migrants, most of them Muslim, from densely overpopulated Java.

Like other regions in the (Maluku Islands), areas in Ambon are still considered to have the status of states, led by kings and queens.

Sirimau District consists of the north-central part of the Leitimur Peninsula, and thus equates roughly to the core of the Ambon city built-up area.

Teluk Ambon Baguala District (usually shortened to Baguala District) consists of the northeastern part of the Leitimur Peninsula, together with the isthmus connecting it to the main (Leihitu) portion of the island and the adjoining part of Leihitu.