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enturies ago, before it became the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta was a small port city on the estuary of the Ciliwung River. From an unknown city, it became an important international trading hub that witnessed a historic transition from colonial times. In commemoration of Jakarta’s 489th anniversary, which falls on June 22, here are five pieces of trivia about the Big Durian that make it the city we know today.

What’s in a name?

Few people know that Jakarta has changed its name 13 times.

In 1527, the name was changed from Sunda Kalapa to Jayakarta by Fatahillah, a figure whose existence is still a subject of debate among historians but who many believe to be the founding father of Jakarta.

In 1621, the Dutch established the city’s administration and called it Stad Batavia. The name changed twice during the period, although it was still called Batavia. The name remained until the city was led by the Japanese, who named it Jakarta Toko Betsu Shi.

After the country announced its independence in 1945, the city’s administration acquired the name of the Jakarta National Administration. The name was changed five more times before becoming the Special Capital Region of Jakarta.

Endangered mascot

The city’s mascot is an elang bondol (brahminy kite) grabbing three pieces of salak condet (snake fruit). Its image can be seen on city-owned Transjakarta buses and monuments that demarcate the city’s borders.

The bird was declared the capital’s mascot when then Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin issued a gubernatorial decree in 1989. Salak condet was chosen to symbolize the city because it is believed to have been the original fruit that grew in Condet, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

During the commencement of the National Movement for Nature and Wildlife Conservation on Karya Island, Thousands Islands, in April, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo released four brahminy kites to bring attention to their critically endangered status.

Largest population in Southeast Asia

Jakarta, which has 10.1 million registered residents, has the largest population in Southeast Asia by far, followed by Bangkok with 8.3 million people and Ho Chi Minh City with 7.9 million.

But counting how many people reside in the city can be quite tricky. While 9.9 million people are in the city at night, the number increases to 12.7 million during the day, because many people from satellite cities commute to the capital.

World’s former biggest stadium

The Gelora Bung Karno main stadium located in the Senayan Sports Complex in Central and South Jakarta is the biggest stadium in Indonesia, with a capacity for 100,000 people when it was built in 1958.

It was one of the biggest stadiums in the world at the time, prior to the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta. The construction was funded by the Soviet Union through a soft loan of US$12.5 million. The facility is a copy of Luzhniki Stadium in Russia.

Most densely populated district

Tambora in West Jakarta is the most populous district in Southeast Asia, with a density of more than 405 residents per hectare.

The area is also known as a center for home industry, with garment workshops throughout the district, which is mostly populated by Indonesians of Chinese descent.