Surabaya is the capital of the province of East Java - Indonesia. Surabaya is the second biggest city after the capital city of Jakarta. With a city population of nearly 7 million, Surabaya is the center of business, industry, commerce, and education in the area of ​​Java and beyond. Surabaya is known as the city of Heroes, because it plays an important role in the history of Indonesia's independence struggle against the Dutch colonial invaders. Surabaya is said that the word comes from the Javanese myth battle between Sura and Buaya or shark or crocodile.

At the time of the Indies - Netherlands, Surabaya residency status as the capital of Surabaya, whose territory also includes the district of Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, Jombang and Gresik. In 1905, Surabaya got class as municipalities and regions in 1926, established as the provincial capital of Surabaya, East Java. Since then Surabaya changed and grown into the second largest business city in Indonesia after Jakarta.

Prior to 1900, downtown Surabaya only revolves around Jembatan Merah or Red Bridge, but until 1920, the growth of new residential areas such as Gubeng, Darmo, Sawahan, and Ketabang. In 1917 built a modern port facilities in Surabaya.