Penajam (, formerly known as Balikpapan Seberang between 1969 and 1987), is an administrative district (kecamatan) of East Kalimantan province of Indonesia; it includes the administrative capital of Penajam North Paser Regency on Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. As at mid 2025, it was inhabited by 100,053 people, and currently has a total land area of 1,207.37 km2. Its district seat is located at the village of Nipah-Nipah.
The district borders Sepaku District to the north, Waru District to the southwest, and Long Kali District (Paser Regency) to the west. It is also separated from Balikpapan (of which the district was formerly part until 1987) by Balikpapan Bay to northeast.
History Etymology According to local legends, a group of robbers from this town were defeated by another group of robbers from Sangkulirang. This situation forced them to stop () becoming robbers. This word eventually evolved into its current form, Penajam. The district's former name before 1987, Balikpapan Seberang, simply refers to its location separated by Balikpapan Bay from the city's mainland.
Modern history On 24 April 1969, Penajam was transferred from Kutai Kartanegara Regency to Balikpapan by gubernatorial decree 55/TH-Pem/SK/1969. Since that date, the district had been known as Balikpapan Seberang (lit. "opposite of Balikpapan") until 13 October 1987, when it was transferred again to Pasir Regency by government regulation number 21, and the name change was reverted. On 11 June 1996, the northern parts of the district (twelve villages) were separated off to form Sepaku District.
On 16 October 2019, riots sparked at Penajam following an assault case at Nipah-Nipah Beach, causing damages on nearby buildings.
Geography Climate Penajam has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.
Governance
Villages
Penajam is divided into the following 23 villages (nineteen classed as urban , four as rural , the latter are marked by a grey background), listed with their areas and their estimated populations as at mid 2024:Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Penajam Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6409030) Regional code() Name Area (km2) Pop'n (2024) RT() 64.09.01.1001 Tanjung Tengah 22.20 2,738 17 64.09.01.1002 Salo Loang 20.21 2,237 7 64.09.01.1003 Petung 10.23 10,263 11 64.09.01.1004 Giri Mukti 16.00 8,296 14 64.09.01.1005 Lawe-Lawe 60.08 2,962 18 64.09.01.1006 Pejala 20.45 1,255 13 64.09.01.1007 Kampung Baru 31.57 653 14 64.09.01.1008 Sesumpu 17.88 952 8 64.09.01.1009 Sungai Parit 19.62 3,964 8 64.09.01.1010 Nipah-Nipah 70.51 4,061 12 64.09.01.1011 Nenang 25.13 7,446 10 64.09.01.1012 Gunung Seteleng 22.18 7,272 12 64.09.01.1013 Penajam 46.23 14,458 10 64.09.01.1014 Buluminung * 70.86 3,414 10 64.09.01.1015 Sotek * 157.96 6,755 10 64.09.01.1016 Sepan * 109.40 2,282 10 64.09.01.1017 Riko * 347.09 2,247 10 64.09.01.1018 Pantai Lango * 44.24 2,690 10 64.09.01.1019 Gersik * 41.51 2,073 10 64.09.01.2020 Jenebora * 45.02 3,475 10 64.09.01.2021 Bukit Subur * 9.60 982 10 64.09.01.2022 Sidorejo 8.96 3,085 10 64.09.01.2023 Giri Purwa 13.47 4,827 10 Totals 1,207.37 98,387 253
The northern 8 villages (indicated by asterisks * in the table above) cover 825.68 km2 and had 23,918 inhabitants in 2024; the southern 15 villages cover 381.69 km2 and had 74,469 inhabitants in 2024. References