In 1786, the British East India Company had taken control of Penang Island, establishing the city of George Town at the island's northeastern tip. For several decades since, the island was governed directly from George Town, with no administrative divisions on the island.
In 1888, a District and Land Office was established at Balik Pulau at the southwest of the island.[2][3] Thus, the Southwest District was created, effectively dividing the island into two districts. Both districts first appeared in official maps dating back to the 1890s.[4]
Administrative divisions
The Southwest District is further divided into 23 subdivisions, officially known as mukims.
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