[1] Padangsidimpuan City is located 448 km from the provincial capital, Medan, and is situated in the southwestern most part of North Sumatra Province.

After President Sukarno proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945, news of the proclamation was brought by fighters from the Sibolga area and Bukittinggi.

Several months after President Sukarno's visit to Padangsidimpuan, the Dutch violated the Renville Agreement and invaded Tapanuli in the early hours of December 19, 1948.

On September 23, 1948, the Dutch army crossed the status quo line in Ajibata at 3:00 AM, and by 5:00 AM, their troops had landed in Balige.

That night, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), along with local youth, launched an attack on the Dutch troops in Padangsidimpuan.

[8] After the recognition of sovereignty in the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference, the South Tapanuli Regency People's Representative Council was formed on March 11, 1950.

The latter flows along the southern and southwestern boundaries of the city, meeting Aek Sibontar near Naposo Stadium.

The city is divided into six districts (Indonesian: kecamatan), listed below along with their areas, populations from the 2010[2] and 2020 Censuses,[3] and official estimates as of mid-2023.

The majority of the people of Padangsidimpuan earn their income from farming, which includes rice fields and plantations.

Initially, zalacca plantations were concentrated at the foot of Tor Sanggarudang (including Hutakoje, Hutalambung, and Sibakkua).

However, in the late 1970s, zalacca plantations expanded to the foot of Mount Lubuk Raya (such as Lobu Layan, Sitaratoit, and Pintu Langit) and to the western area of the city.

Other plantation products include rubber, coffee, coconut, cocoa, cloves, candlenuts, and cinnamon.

The city has good land access and is strategically located along the main route connecting various growth centers in the Sumatra region.

While motorized becaks in various Indonesian cities typically use mopeds or scooters, in Padangsidimpuan, it is the classic Vespa that powers the rickshaws.

Tourism in Padangsidimpuan City has developed significantly, with several areas serving as popular tourist centers.

These include the Salak Monument area, Jalan Merdeka, Pasar Pajak Batu, Tor (Bukit) Simarsayang, and Teletubbies Hill in Batunadua, all of which are key tourist destinations in the city.

The Tugu Salak is an iconic landmark of the city, and many Padangsidimpuan residents use it as a park or a place to relax, typically from the afternoon to the evening.

It serves as a community gathering place open to the public, typically visited in the afternoon and evening to enjoy the atmosphere of the city center.

The area becomes lively in the afternoon and evening, offering a great vantage point to view Padangsidimpuan City at night.