Pre Colonial Era

The Sultanate of Aceh was established by Sultan Ali Mughayatsyah in 1511. Later, during its golden era, in the 17th century, its territory and political influence expanded as far as Satun in southern Thailand, Johor in Malay Peninsula, and Siak in what is today the province of Riau. As was the case with most non-Javan pre-colonial states, Acehnese power expanded outward by sea rather than inland. As it expanded down the Sumatran coast, its main competitors were Johor and Portuguese Malacca on the other side of the Straits of Malacca. It was this seaborne trade focus that saw Aceh rely on rice imports from north Java rather than develop self sufficiency in rice production.^[6] After the Portuguese occupation of Malacca in 1511, many Islamic traders passing the Malacca Straits shifted their trade to Banda Aceh and increased the Acehnese rulers' wealth. During the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda in the 17th century, Aceh's influence extended to most of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Aceh allied itself with the Ottoman Empire and the Dutch East India Company in their struggle against the Portuguese and the Johor Sultanate. Acehnese military power waned gradually thereafter, and Aceh ceded its territory of Pariaman in West Sumatra to the Dutch in the 18th century.^[7]

Colonial Era

Before the 20th century, the country was ruled by uleebalang Kutablang. In 1903, after resistance fighters against Dutch colonists weakened Aceh, Aceh began to master.

Lhokseumawe conquered areas and from then on the status of Lhokseumawe was "Bestuur Van Lhokseumawe" with Zelf Bestuurder is Teuku Abdul Lhokseumawe subordinate Controeleur aspirants and also domiciled in Lhokseumawe and assistant resident district officer or Regent.

In the second decade of the 20th century, among the entire mainland of Aceh, a small island about 11 km² widely separated by Krueng Cunda River. filled buildings General Government, Military, and Transportation Railway by the Dutch government. Small islands with villages of Keude Aceh, Kampung Jawa, Kuta blang, Mon Geudong, Teumpok Teungoh, Hagu Kampung, Uteuen bayi and Ujong Blang are entirely new 5,500 plural in Lhokseumawe call. Building by building fills this land until the city has realized embryos harbor, market, railway station and the offices of government agencies.

Independence era

On 21 September and 22 September 1953, Darul Islam forces attacked Lhokseumawe twice, but the Indonesian army repelled the attack.^[8]

Since the Declaration of Independence, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has not established systemic to this district. At first Lhokseumawe combined with Bestuurder Van Cunda. The mainland population is increasingly crowded, coming from surrounding areas such as Buloh Blang Ara, Matangkuli, Blang Jruen, Lhoksukon, Nisam, Cunda and Pidie.

In 1956 the Emergency Law No. 7 of 1956, the autonomous regions formed regencies within the region of North Sumatra province, where one of them is the North Aceh Regency with its capital at Lhokseumawe.

Then in 1964 the Decree of the Governor of Aceh Special Region Number 34/GA/1964 dated 30 November 1964, it was determined that Kemukiman Banda Sakti in Muara Dua, the District used its own under the name of the District Banda Sakti.

Based on the Act No. 5 of 1974 on the Principles of Regional Administration, Lhokseumawe be likely to improve the status of the City of, on August 14, 1986, with the Regional Regulation No. 32 of 1986 Establishment of the City of Lhokseumawe signed by President of Indonesia Suharto, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Roestam Soeparjo country on 31 August 1987. Given that it is de jure and de facto Lhokseumawe became the City of the area of 181.06 km² which includes 101 villages and 6 urban villages in five districts, namely the Districts of Banda Sakti, Muara Dua, Dewantara, Muara Batu, and Blang Mangat.

From 1988 onwards, the idea of improving the status of the town began. Law No. 2 of 2001 (dated 21 June 2001), signed by the president of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid, established Lhokseumawe as a separate municipality whose territory then included three districts, namely the districts of Banda Sakti, Muara Dua and Blang Mangat (Dewantara and Muara Batu Districts remained in North Aceh Regency). In 2006 the district of Muara Dua was split into two - Muara Dua and Muara Satu - so Lhokseumawe now has four districts.

Airport

• Air : Malikussaleh Airport & Lhoksukon Airport

Seaport

• Sea : Kruengeukeuh Seaport

Road and highway

• Land: Terpadu Terminal

Public transport

One of the unique features of Lhokseumawe city is the motorized rickshaws known as Becak Motor or Becak Mesin. The becaks are found almost everywhere. The fare to ride a becak is relatively cheap and is usually negotiated beforehand.

There are also more public transport like minibuses, known as Labi Labi or Angkutan Kota (Angkot). The Labi Labi can be found easily on medium- to highly-congested roads, and the fare to ride a Labi Labi is very cheap.

Radio

The city of Lhokseumawe has several radio stations:

TV channels

Lhoksumawe City has 18 TV channels (17 national and 1 local):