The area originally had the status of a keresidenan in 1819, rose to gouvernement from 1837, and became a keresidenan again from 1914 until it was occupied by the Japanese in 1942. The administrative centre of the West Coast of Sumatra is located in Padang.[citation needed]
When the region had gouvernement status, the West Coast of Sumatra once housed a number of keresidenan, namely Padangsche Bovenlanden, Padangsche Benedenlanden, Bengkulu, Tapanuli, Singkil, Rokan Hulu, Kampar, Kuantan Singingi, and Kerinci. Today, part of the West Coast of Sumatra is inherited by the Province of West Sumatra, while other parts are incorporated into the Provinces of Aceh (Singkil), North Sumatra (Batu Islands, Nias and Tapanuli), Riau (Rokan Hulu, Kampar and Kuantan Singingi), Jambi (Kerinci) and Bengkulu.[citation needed]
Until 1862, the West Coast of Sumatra was ruled by middle-ranking officers, and between 1862-1915 by civilian governors. Notable leaders in this area were Andreas Victor Michiels (1838-1849), Jan van Swieten (1849-1858) and Elisa Netscher (1870-1878).[citation needed]
During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, the West Coastal region of Sumatra, which had the status of a prefecture, was called Sumatora Nishi Kaigan Shu.[1][2]
List of authorities
Dutch East Indies
The ruler who once reigned in Sumatra's Westkust.[3][4][5]
