Tegal Regency (
Javanese:ꦏꦧꦸꦥꦠꦺꦤ꧀ꦠꦺꦒꦭ꧀) is one of the
regencies (''kabupaten'') in the northwest corner of
Central Java
Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...
province of Indonesia, with an area of . The regency's administrative center used to be in
Tegal City, in the northwest corner of the regency, but then
Tegal City was administratively separated from the regency and formed into its own territory. The city was later replaced as the administrative center of Tegal Regency by
Slawi Town, which is a suburb about to the south of the city and within the district boundary. The regency had a population of 1,394,839 at the 2010 Census
[Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.] and 1,596,996 at the 2020 Census;
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.] the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 1,674,803 (comprising 848,602 males and 826,201 females).
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Tegal Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog 1102001.3328)]
History
The name of Tegal comes from the word ''Tetegal'' which means fertile soil capable of producing agricultural crops. Another source states that Tegal's name is believed to come from the word Teteguall - the name given by a trader from Portugal named Tome Pires who stopped at the Port of Tegal in the 1500s.
Tegal Regency was established on 18 May 1601 when
Ki Gede Sebayu was appointed as a ''Juru Demung'' in Tegal by the Sultan of Mataram, and began to develop this area.
Geography
The northern part of Tegal Regency is lowland, while in the southern part is a mountain,
Mount Slamet
Mount Slamet (, "Salvation Mountain" or "Mountain of Health") is an active stratovolcano that summits in the Pemalang Regency of Central Java, Indonesia. It has a cluster of around three dozen cinder cones on the lower southeast and northeast f ...
, rising to a peak of 3,428 m.
At the border with Pemalang Regency, there are a series of steep hills down which large rivers flow, namely
Kali Gung and
Kali Erang, both of which are water-eyed upstream of Mount Slamet.
Geographic location
Tegal Regency is located in the northwest part of Central Java province, with geographical location 108° 57 ' 06" - 109° 21' 30" E and 6° 02' 41" - 7° 15' 30" S. Tegal Regency has a strategic location that are in the road of Semarang - Tegal - Cirebon and Semarang - Tegal - Purwokerto - Cilacap, with port facilities located in
Tegal City.
Boundaries
Tegal Regency is bordered to the north by the
Java Sea
The Java Sea (, ) is an extensive shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf, between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south, Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east. Karimata Strait to its northwest links it to the South Ch ...
, to the east by
Pemalang Regency, to the south by
Banyumas Regency and
Brebes Regency, to the west by Brebes Regency, and to the northwest by the city of Tegal.
Administrative division
Administratively, Tegal Regency is divided into 18
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
(''kecamatan''), which are sub-divided into administrative villages - 281 rural
villages
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban village ...
(''desa'') and 6
urban village
In urban planning and urban design, design, an urban village is an urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space. Contemporary urb ...
s (''kelurahan''). The districts are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census
and the 2020 Census,
together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Tegal Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog 1102001.3328)] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, and the number of
administrative village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban village ...
s in each district (totaling 281 rural ''desa'' and 6 urban ''kelurahan'').
Notes: (a) comprising 5 ''kelurahan'' (Kagok, Kudaile, Pakembaran, Procot and Slawi Wetan) and 5 ''desa''. (b) including one ''kelurahan'' (Dampyak).
The nine districts of Lebaksiu, Pangkah, Slawi, Dukuhwaru, Adiwerna, Dukuhturi, Talang, Tarub and Kramat are part of the Tegal Metropolitan Area; of these, Adiwerna, Dukuhturi and Talang are southern suburbs of Tegal City.
From its establishment, the administrative center of Tegal Regency was located in
Tegal City. However, following the issuance of Government Regulation No. 2/1984, its administrative centre was moved from the
Tegal City area to the town of
Slawi. Beginning in late 1989,
Slawi was developed into the capital of Tegal Regency.
The districts and villages (rural ''desa'' and urban ''kelurahan'') in Tegal Regency are:
Government
Regents of Tegal Regency
From Mataram era to Dutch East Indies era
*
Ki Gede Sebayu (Democrat) is level with Regent (1601 - 1620) Buried in Danawarih Village, Balapulang District.
*
Ki Gede Honggowono (Democrat) is level with Regent (1620 - 1625) Buried in Kalisoka Village, Dukuhwaru district.
*
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...
Arya
Martoloyo "The First Duke of Tegal" (1625 - 1678).
*
Tumenggung Sindurejo aka
Pranantaka aka
Gendowor (1678 - 1679).
*
Tumenggung Honggowono aka
Duke Reksonegoro I (1679 - 1680).
*
Tumenggung Secowijoyo (1680 - 1697).
*
Tumenggung Secomenggolo (1697 - 1700).
*
Raden Mas Tumenggung Tritonoto (1700 - 1702).
*
Tumenggung Bodroyudho Secowardoyo I aka
Duke Reksonegoro II (1702 - 1746).
*
Tumenggung Bodroyudho Secowardoyo II aka
Duke Reksonegoro III (1746 - 1776) Buried in Kalisoka Village, Dukuhwaru district.
*
Tumenggung Kartoyudho aka
Duke Reksonegoro IV (1776 - 1800).
*
Raden Mas Panji Haji Cokronegoro IV (1800 - 1816) Buried in Semedo Village,
Kedungbanteng district.
*
Tumenggung Surenggono (1816) Died after being appointed as Tumenggung.
*
Tumenggung Surodiwongso aka
Tumenggung Suronegoro (1816 - 1819).
*
Tumenggung Secomenggolo (1819 - 1821).
*
Raden Mas Arya Haji Reksonegoro VI (1821 - 1857).
*
Tumenggung Sosronegoro (1857 - 1858).
*
Raden Mas Ronggo Surodipuro (1858 - 1862).
*
Raden Tumenggung Widyoningrat (1862 - 1864).
*
R. Tumenggung Panji Sosrokusumo (1864 - 1869).
*
R.M. Ore (R.M.A. Reksonegoro VII) (1869 - 18 ...).
*
R.M. Kis (R.M.A. Reksonegoro VIII) (... - 1903) Buried In Pesarean Village, Adiwerna District.
*
R.M. Suyitno (R.M.A. Reksonegoro IX) (1903 - 1929).
* R.M. Susmono (R.M.A. Reksonegoro X) (1929 - 1935).
* J. Patih R. Subiyanto (1935 - 1937).
* R. Tumenggung Slamet Kertonegoro (1937 - 1942).
From the Japanese colonial era to the Old Order era, the New Order era and the Reformation era
* Mr. Moh.
Great Mertokusumo (concurrently Burgermester) (1942 - 1944).
* Raden Sunaryo (1944 - 1945).
* Kyai Abu Sujai "As the First Ulama who became the Regent" (1945 - 1946) Buried In Talang Village, Talang District.
* Prawoto Sudibyo (1946 - 1948)
* R. Soeputro (1948 - 1949)
* R.M. Susmono Reksonegoro (1949 - 1950)
* R.M. Sumindro (1950 - 1955)
* R.M. Projosumarto (1955 - 1960)
* Sutoro (1960 - 1966)
* Munadi (January 1966 - December 1966)
* R. Sutarjo (December 1966 - December 1967)
* Col. R. Soepadhi Joedodarmo (1967 - 1973)
* Lieutenant Colonel. R. Samino Sastrosuwignyo (1973 - 1977)
* Drs. Herman Sumarmo (Ymt) (1977 - 1978)
* Hasyim Dirjosubroto (1978 - 1989)
* Drs. H. Wienachto (1989 to 1991)
* Drs. Sudiatno (January 1991 - August 1991)
* Drs. H. Soetjipto (August 1991 - July 1998)
* Drs. Setiawan Sadono (Plt) (July 1998 - June 1999)
* Drs. H. Soediharto (June 1999 - January 2004)
* Agus Riyanto, S.Sos, M.M. (January 2004 - August 2011)
* H.M. Heri Soelistiawan, S.H., M.Hum. (August 2011 - May 2013)
* Drs. Haron Bagas Prakosa, M.Hum. (Plt Regent of Tegal) (May 2013 - June 2013)
* Ir. Satriyo Widodo (Plt.) (June 2013 - October 2013)
*
Ki Enthus Susmono, Ph.D. (October 2013 - 2018)
* Drs. Sinoeng Nugroho Rahmadi, MM. (2018 - 2018)
* Dra. Hj. Ummi Azizah (2018 - 2023)
Population
Tegal Regency is the 4th most densely populated regency in Central Java (after
Kudus Regency
Kudus () is a Regencies of Indonesia, regency () in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is the town of Kudus, Kudus, Kudus. It covers 425.15 km2 and is thus the smallest regency on Java Island in area, and it had a population of ...
,
Sukoharjo Regency
Sukoharjo Regency is a Regencies of Indonesia, regency () in the Central Java province in Indonesia. It covers an area of 493.23 km2 and had a population of 824,238 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 907,587 at the 2020 Cen ...
and
Klaten Regency), based on the 2023 official estimates. The main population distribution lies to the south of
Tegal City and along the Tegal - Slawi Highway.
Language
In daily life, the people of Tegal Regency use
Banyumasan-Javanese Language with Tegalese dialect, which is now known as
Tegalese Language.
Economy
Home industry
The people of Tegal Regency have many businesses in the home industry sector, including casting, metalworking, textile, shuttlecock, furniture, and pottery. There are also industrial plants of chalk and powder raw materials in the area of
Margasari District as the main supplier of powder in Tegal Regency.
Agriculture and plantation
The people of Tegal Regency also work in agriculture and plantation sectors, especially in the southern part of Tegal Regency especially in the Districts of
Bumijawa and
Bojong.
Marine and fisheries
In the marine and fisheries sector, coastal residents, especially in
Suradadi District, work as fishermen in the
Java Sea
The Java Sea (, ) is an extensive shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf, between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south, Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east. Karimata Strait to its northwest links it to the South Ch ...
and
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan island, Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luz ...
(including the
Riau Islands
The Riau Islands () is a provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia consisting of a group of islands located in the western part of the country. It was established in 2002 after being separated from the neighboring Riau Province. The capit ...
). The catches are sold to the fishing port of
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
,
Cirebon
Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central J ...
,
Pekalongan
Pekalongan () is a city of Central Java, Indonesia. It was formerly the seat of Pekalongan Regency on the northern coast of the province, but is now an independent municipality within the province. It covers a land area of 45.25 km2 and had a p ...
and
Tegal City. Coastal residents of Tegal Regency include many who have opened shrimp farming businesses, and milkfish (also the sale of seeds).
Livestock
In the livestock sector, the people of Tegal Regency have many businesses in the field of poultry farms, like Tegal Duck (Indian Runner) for the supply of the salted egg industry in
Brebes. In the countryside there are also goats, cows and buffaloes, which are traditionally cultivated.
The Tegal Stalls
The people of Tegal Regency include many who go to work in other cities on
Java Island (especially in
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
) and on other islands. Many of the businesses opened are Tegal Food Stalls (Indonesian : ''Warung Tegal'' or "warteg") which are incorporated in the Cooperative of Tegal Stalls (Indonesian : ''Koperasi Warung Tegal'' or "Kowarteg"), that selling ''martabak telur'' (from
Lebaksiu District), and others. On the days before Idul Fitri, the people from Tegal Regency who work elsewhere go home from the region where they work to meet their family and bring the money from their work/ business.
Education
Schools in Tegal Regency include the following:
Level junior high school
Level senior high school
Level college
Level Islamic Boarding School
Tourism
Tourism site
* Guci Hot Water Bath (Guci Tourism Site), located in Bumijawa District on the slopes of Mount Slamet, about 30 km from Slawi town.
In Guci there are 10 waterfalls. Among them are Bath 13 and Shower 7, local residents often soak and bathe, because it is believed to cure skin diseases. In Guci also available the horses for rent to go sightseeing enjoy the scenery around. This tourism site is available a variety of facilities such as lodging (hotels and villas), forest tours, heated swimming pool, tennis court and football as well as the campground. Horses are also available to rent. Jedor Waterfall is upland.
* Purwahamba Indah (Purin) Beach, located in Suradadi Subdistrict on North Coast road.
* Cacaban Lake, located in Kedungbanteng subdistrict.
* Mount Sitanjung, located in Lebaksiu subdistrict which is a sacred place in the Great Day of Java and Islam.
* Curug Cantel, is the highest waterfall in Tegal Regency with a height of about 70 meters located in Bumijawa subdistrict.
* Mount Batu, located in Batuagung village in Tegal Regency, stretches from south to north, and from west to east.
* Beko Lake, a green lake due to a mixture of sulfur and surrounded by limestone mountains. This tourist attraction is located in Margasari District.
* Hanging Bridge at Kaligung Dam, Danawarih village, near Ki Gede Sebayu tomb.
Interesting place
* Slawi Square, is a large park with a large fountain located in the center of Slawi Town right in front of the Pendopo of Tegal Regency.
* Slawi People's Park in Procot, Slawi Town.
* MAKO BRIGIF-4 (Infantry Brigade Command Headquarters), Slawi Town.
* Radar Unit 214/Tegal, (Indonesian: ''Satuan Radar 214/Tegal''), is an air defense element located directly under the National Air Defense Sector Command I. It is located in the northern region of Central Java Province in charge of carrying out air defense operations, especially the National air observations. It is further said that Radar Unit 214/Tegal in its main duty has full authority in maintaining sovereignty in the air with all the capabilities it possesses.
This radar unit formerly was named "Radar Unit 214/
Pemalang". The change of the Radar Unit name is based on the Decree of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force No. Kep-1046/XII/2015 issued on December 15, 2015. In addition, the change of name of Radar Unit is also on the consideration of the territorial aspect in which this Unit is in Tegal Regency so that the use of the Radar Unit of Pemalang name is not relevant anymore with the current condition.
* Tri Sanja Stadium, Persekat (Tegal Regency Football United) Headquarters.
* Mount Gantungan, in Jatinegara subdistrict, where several towers relay TV stations.
* Slutu Mlaku is an agro tourism located in Kedungsukun village, Adiwerna subdistrict. Businesses include Kedungsukun Market and Herlan's Babbling Bird Studio.
Educational tourism
* ''Gerakan Banteng Nasional'' (GBN) Struggle Monument, located in Procot, Slawi Town right in front of Poci Monument Roundabout.
* Ancient Human Site Semedo, is a site of ancient humans and ancient animals located in Semedo village, Kedungbanteng.
Religious tourism
* Surau Ponolawen, is a place for pilgrimage, there is a sacred tomb that is said to be the tomb of Sheikh spreader of Islam first in the area, located in Pagiyanten village bordering Kedungsukun village, Adiwerna.
Shopping Center
* Yogya Slawi Department Store, (Formerly Dedy Jaya Plaza), located at Jl.Ahmad Yani, Slawi Town.
* Mutiara Cahaya (MC), the first supermarket in downtown of Slawi Town.
* Slawi Commercial Center, located in downtown of Slawi Townbuilt in 2002.
* Banjaran Permai, located in Tembok Banjaran village, Adiwerna.
* Trayeman Market, is the oldest traditional market in Tegal Regency, located in Trayeman, Slawi Town.
Worship place
* Great Mosque of Tegal Regency.
Spot photos
* Torch Statue Roundabout, in Pakembaran.
* Poci Monument Roundabout, in Slawi Town.
* Pujasera Park, in Slawi Town.
Historic site
* Slawi 3 Elementary School (formerly Putri Elementary School) (Dutch heritage).
* Procot 1 Elementary School (Dutch heritage), at Jl. Nangka No. 3 Procot, Slawi Town.
* Pangkah Sugar Factory, in Pangkah subdistrict.
Culinary
Typical food
* Bogana Rice - Rice-like rice megon.
* Bongkok Ketupat - Ketupat from the village of
Bongkok.
* Blengong Sate - Sate whose meat comes from animal crosslinking between
duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...
and
mentok (blengong).
* Duck Majir Sate
* Glabed Ketupat
* Kemronyos - Typical Sate Tegal
* Kupat Sambel Tahu Lengko Mbah Pa'ong - Typical food from Margasari, Tegal , Margasari] area. Made from natural rice wrapped in coconut leaves with a shape like ''urung''. And mixed with bean sprouts, chunks
ci tofu sprinkled with extra spicy peanut sauce and sprinkled with fried onions and yellow noodle crackers. Kupat Sambel Tahu Lengko from the next generation of Mbah Pa'ong can still be found at Wak Dakum kiosk in Margasari Market complex.
* Mendoan - Fried flour tempeh with seasoning, it's fried and undercooked. As a drinking companion with Poci Tea and it's served with soy sauce and mixed with cayenne pepper. Mendoan can also be found in Banyumasan area.
* Ponggol Devil Rice
* Ponggol Rice
* Rujak teplak - Rujak with a tape sauce.
* Sega lengko - Rice with complementary ingredients such as tempeh, tofu sliced dice, bean sprouts, raw cabbage, and peanut sauce along with crackers.
* Tegal Sate - Sate young goat with soy chili sauce.
* Tegal Soto - Chicken soto / goat soto from Tegal with spice tauco and bean sprouts.
Typical Drink
* Poci Tea is a tea that is brewed in a pot made of clay and drunk with stone sugar. Slogan of Poci Tea is "wasgitel" meaning ''wangi, panas, sepet, legi lan kentel'' (Eng : fragrant, hot, spicy, sweet, and thick), Tegal regency until now also known as a tea-producing center.
Tegal typical snacks
Fried food and snack food
* Aci Tofu
* Anthor Crackers - Crackers made from cassava fried with coconut pulp (sand kaligung). To enjoy it must provide a drink because if you eat this cracker then the throat will feel hoarse.
* Bogares Salted Peanuts - Snacks of marinated peanuts, this snack comes from the village of
Bogares Kidul.
* Ear Tofu - Ear Tofu is given a dough of tapioca starch and shaped like an ear which is then fried.
* Gejos - Food made from grated-cassava which is filled with red sugar.
*
Olos - This snack is made of flour and formed round, then filled with sliced cabbage, onion and cayenne pepper. Then fried to harden for make it crispy. This food comes from Jatirawa village. Origin of this snack that originated when the inventor of this food sold the rissoles in
Jatirawa, and then there were some kids who were buying it, but what they called is not the word "rissoles" but "oles", so this food is finally called olos. it is like a rissoles in general but because there were buyers who did not like carrots or bean sprouts, finally these foods were filled with cabbage and chilli alone, as well as made into a round-shaped creations.
* Opak - A thin round meal made from cassava, can also be eaten with chili sauce.
* Pilus - Snack made of wheat and small sphere-shaped.
*
Petis - Food made from squeezed soybean juice that is then crushed and given chili pepper and then cooked.
Petis can also be cooked with chicken bones or goat bones to make it more enjoyable.
* Plethok Tofu
Various cakes
* Bongko Cake
* Jenang / Dodol Glempang
* Lolom Cake
* Martabak Lebaksiu
* Semprong
* Talam Cake
* Topsy-Turvy Gemblong
* Wrinkles
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Regencies of Central Java
Pemali basin