kotamadya (municipality) and capital of West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) (Sumatera Barat) propinsi (province), Indonesia. Padang is the chief port on Sumatra's western coast and is now the main city of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra. It was the site of Dutch settlements early in the 17th century, and warehouses and a small fort were erected in 1667. The town was held by the British (1812–18) and prospered during the 19th century with the opening up of the highlands' mineral wealth, tourist traffic, and construction of coastal and inland railways. The city's port, formerly Emmahaven, lies at the mouth of the Padang River at a point 5 miles (8 km) south of the city. Originally a bunker port for coal from the Umbilin coalfields, it now also ships coffee, rubber, cinnamon, tea, nutmeg, rattan, and plywood. Padang has an airport and is the site of Andalas University (1956). Pop. (2005) 799,741.