George Town, Penang
George Town is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area with a population of 2.84 million and the second highest contributor to the country's GDP. The city proper spans an area of 306 km2 (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had a population of 794,313 as of 2020.
George Town | |
|---|---|
State capital city and district capital | |
| City of Penang Island Bandaraya Pulau Pinang | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Mandarin | 乔治市 (Simplified) 喬治市 (Traditional) Qiáozhì shì (Pinyin) |
| • Hokkien | Pho-té / Kiâu-tī-tshī (Tâi-lô) |
| • Tamil | ஜார்ஜ் டவுன் Jārj Iḍavuṉ (Transliteration) |
| • Thai | จอร์จทาวน์ Chogethao (RTGS) |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
| Etymology: George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland | |
| Nickname: Pearl of the Orient | |
| Motto(s): Leading We Serve (Malay: Memimpin Sambil Berkhidmat) | |
George Town George Town George Town | |
| Coordinates: 05°24′52″N 100°19′45″E | |
| Country | Malaysia |
| State | Penang |
| Districts | Northeast and Southwest |
| Mukims | City centre and 36 subdistricts |
| Founded | 11 August 1786 |
| Municipality | c. 1857 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1 January 1957 |
| Expansion | 31 March 2015 |
| Founded by | Francis Light |
| Government | |
| • Type | City council |
| • Body | Penang Island City Council |
| • Mayor | Rajendran P. Anthony |
| • City Secretary | Cheong Chee Hong |
| Area | |
| • City | 306 km2 (118 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,759 km2 (1,451 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 794,313 |
| • Rank | 8th in Malaysia 2nd in Penang |
| • Density | 2,596/km2 (6,720/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,844,214 (2nd) |
| • Metro density | 760/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnic groups |
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| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | Not observed |
| Postal code | 100xx–108xx 111xx–118xx |
| Area code(s) | +604-2, +604-6, +604-8 |
| Website | www |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 1223 |
| Inscription | 2008 (32nd Session) |
Initially established as an entrepôt by Francis Light in 1786, George Town serves as the commercial centre for northern Malaysia. According to Euromonitor International and the Economist Intelligence Unit, it has the highest potential for revenue growth among all Malaysian cities and contributed nearly 8% of the country's personal disposable income in 2015, second only to the national capital, Kuala Lumpur. Its technological sector, anchored by hundreds of multinational companies, has made George Town the top exporter in the country. The Penang International Airport links George Town to several regional cities, while a ferry service and two road bridges connect the city to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia. Swettenham Pier is the busiest cruise terminal in the country.
George Town was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and its proximity to maritime routes along the Strait of Malacca attracted an influx of immigrants from various parts of Asia. Following rapid growth in its early years, it became the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1826, only to lose its administrative status to Singapore in 1832. The Straits Settlements became a British crown colony in 1867. Shortly before Malaya attained independence from Britain in 1957, George Town was declared a city by Queen Elizabeth II, making it the first city in the country's history. In 1974, George Town was merged with the rest of the island, throwing its city status into doubt until 2015, when its jurisdiction was reinstated and expanded to cover the entire island and adjacent islets.
The city is described by UNESCO as having a "unique architectural and cultural townscape" that is shaped by centuries of intermingling between various cultures and religions. It has also gained a reputation as Malaysia's gastronomical capital for its distinct culinary scene. The preservation of these cultures contribute to the city centre's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.