History

The area was a rich source of tin the late 19th century, and the main Dinding river served as a major waterway for steamships laden with ore, bound for Penang. Legend tells of a work elephant, overburdened with tin ore, becoming stuck in the river mud at low tide. Despite efforts, it could not be freed and was abandoned, save for its companion, another elephant who refused to leave until both perished in the rising waters. This impressed the hicks who imaginatively named the place Kampung Sungai Gajah Mati (Village by the River Where the Elephants Died). A smallpox outbreak in 1886 convinced the superstitious locals to change the name to Setia Kawan or "loyal friend", to placate the spirits of the elephants. Over time, this became "Sitiawan".

In 1903, more than 360 Chinese Christians from Fujian, China, consisting of Kutian, Hockchiu, Hockcheng and Henghua people (collectively known as Fuzhou) were settled in the area. Today, many Fuzhous in the surrounding area and major cities such as Ipoh trace their roots to Sitiawan.

World War II saw the arrival of the Japanese in the area, galvanising the local population into resistance, one of whom, the infamous Chin Peng, formed a Communist guerrilla army that not only fought the Japanese, but later the British colonial administration, resulting in the Malayan Emergency of 1948-1960.

In recent times, Sitiawan's economy has boomed, with the establishment of the Royal Malaysian Naval Base in nearby Lumut, as well as the settlement of swiftlets, whose nests are used to make the Chinese delicacy of bird's nest soup. With prosperity came rapid and somewhat uncontrolled development, increased infrastructure and pollution to what used to be a sleepy area.