The majority of the population in district are migrants from various regions such as Sulawesi (Buginese, Makassar), Banjarmasin, Java and Madura Island.

With a quarter of the area above the water, the district has many places on conservative land including Mangroves forest around Balikpapan Bay and the Wain River.

This district is one of the most important oil and natural gas producing areas in West Balikpapan is ChevronTexaco.

The military once maintained a Malaysia Liaison Officer by the Malaysian Army was operated in Baru Ilir subdistrict.

Kampung Baru Seaport managed by Indonesia Port Corporations IV (Pelindo IV) is a seaport that serves shipping routes to and from several sub-districts in Penajam North Paser Regency, East Kalimantan.