Poso
title: "Poso" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-central-sulawesi", "regency-seats-of-central-sulawesi"] topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poso" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| official_name | Poso |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | Kota Poso (2015).jpg |
| image_caption | Poso in 2015 |
| image_map | Poso Sentinel-2 L2A, True Color on December 5, 2020.png |
| map_caption | Sentinel-2 L2A satellite image, featuring the city of Poso in December 2020 |
| pushpin_map | Indonesia Sulawesi |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location of Poso in Sulawesi |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Indonesia |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Central Sulawesi |
| subdivision_type2 | Regency |
| subdivision_name2 | Poso |
| area_total_km2 | 66.8 |
| population_as_of | mid 2024 estimate |
| population_note | |
| population_total | 47592 |
| timezone | Central Indonesia Time |
| utc_offset | +8 |
| coordinates | |
| website | http://posokab.go.id/ |
| :: |
| official_name = Poso | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Kota Poso (2015).jpg | image_caption = Poso in 2015 | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = Poso Sentinel-2 L2A, True Color on December 5, 2020.png | mapsize = | map_caption = Sentinel-2 L2A satellite image, featuring the city of Poso in December 2020 | pushpin_map = Indonesia Sulawesi | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Poso in Sulawesi | pushpin_label_position = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Indonesia | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Central Sulawesi | subdivision_type2 = Regency | subdivision_name2 = Poso | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 66.8 | area_land = | area_water = | population_as_of = mid 2024 estimate | population_note = | population_total = 47592 | population_footnotes = | timezone = Central Indonesia Time | utc_offset = +8 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_m = | website = http://posokab.go.id/ | footnotes = Poso (Old Spelling: Posso) is the administrative capital of Poso Regency, Indonesia. It is the main port and transportation hub for the central-southern coast of Central Sulawesi. Its urban area consists of three districts, Poso Kota, North Poso Kota, and South Poso Kota. Poso lies in the middle of the province on the shore of the Gulf of Tomini, right in the central part of Sulawesi Island. With a total population of 47,592 in mid 2024, it is one of the biggest and oldest towns in the province.
Poso began to develop as a small port town located at the mouth of the Poso River at the end of the 19th century—making it one of the oldest towns in Central Sulawesi, its presence was considered important for the Dutch to control the southern region of Tomini in the early days of their arrival. Poso was the administrative center of Landschap Poso, Onderafdeling Poso, and later Afdeling Poso during colonial times. Amid World War II, the Japanese made Poso one of their military posts. Post-independence, Poso was chosen as the capital of the newly formed Central Sulawesi in 1948 before the capital was moved to Palu in 1951.
Poso's central location has historically made it a strategic stopover point for travelers moving between the north and south, as well as the west and east of Sulawesi. This has contributed to a diverse population, comprising various ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds. The inhabitants are dispersed from coastal areas to the mountainous regions, with trade and services serving as the primary economic activities.
Poso is crossed by the Trans-Sulawesi National Highway and served by Kasiguncu Airport, linking it to other cities in Sulawesi such as Palu and Makassar.
Geography
Climate
Poso has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round. |width = auto | location = Poso | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 30.6 | Feb high C = 30.7 | Mar high C = 30.9 | Apr high C = 31.0 | May high C = 31.1 | Jun high C = 30.3 | Jul high C = 29.7 | Aug high C = 30.8 | Sep high C = 31.2 | Oct high C = 32.2 | Nov high C = 31.8 | Dec high C = 31.1
| Jan mean C = 26.8 | Feb mean C = 26.8 | Mar mean C = 27.0 | Apr mean C = 27.0 | May mean C = 27.4 | Jun mean C = 26.6 | Jul mean C = 25.9 | Aug mean C = 26.6 | Sep mean C = 26.7 | Oct mean C = 27.5 | Nov mean C = 27.5 | Dec mean C = 27.1 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 23.0 | Feb low C = 23.0 | Mar low C = 23.1 | Apr low C = 23.1 | May low C = 23.7 | Jun low C = 23.0 | Jul low C = 22.2 | Aug low C = 22.5 | Sep low C = 22.3 | Oct low C = 22.9 | Nov low C = 23.2 | Dec low C = 23.2 |rain colour=green |Jan rain mm=162 |Feb rain mm=157 |Mar rain mm=247 |Apr rain mm=291 |May rain mm=253 |Jun rain mm=256 |Jul rain mm=219 |Aug rain mm=193 |Sep rain mm=201 |Oct rain mm=144 |Nov rain mm=197 |Dec rain mm=197 |source 1 = Climate-Data.org{{cite web |url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/1066489/ |title = Climate: Poso |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date = 21 November 2020}}
Tourism and culture
Poso can be reached by plane from Palu or by bus from many other big cities on Sulawesi and is situated on the equator. It features tropical rain forest, seashore gardens, and other natural scenery. Sintuwu Maroso Square is the main town square and is located in central Poso. Rumah Katu Marine Park is a water park located 10 km from the center of Poso.
Modero is a well-known traditional dance that is performed during the celebration of rice harvesting (Padungku), usually in the evenings.
References
Sources
Books
Journals
Reports
Websites
References
- Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Poso Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7204)
- (February 8, 2016). "Selayang Pandang Kota Poso".
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