Barpeta district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Barpeta. The district occupies an area of 3245 km² and has a population of 1,642,420 (as of 2001.)
History
Barpeta district was created in 1983 when it was split from Kamrup district. In 2020, Bajali subdivision was split from Barpeta to be a fully-fledged district.
Geography
Barpeta district occupies an area of 3,245 square kilometres (1,253 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Russia’s Iturup Island. Barpeta district shares an international border with Bhutan in the north.
Important villages and towns of the district
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This section does not cite any sources. (October 2019)
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These are the important cities/towns of the district:
- Barpeta
- The headquarters and the second largest town in the district. The town is surrounded by rivulets and canals from all directions. The important centre of attraction is the Barpeta satra established by Vaishnavite saint Madhabdev.
- Howly
- The middle town of the district between Barpeta Road and Barpeta Town. It is a busy commercial town that is also known as the business capital of the district.
- Barpeta Road
- The largest town of the district. It is a busy commercial town that is also known as the business capital of western Assam.
- Sarbhog
- A small town along National Highway no. 31.
- Bahari
- It is situated in the southeast corner of Barpeta, near about 20 km away from the main town. Brahmaputra river flows on the southern side of Bahari. It is also the commercial hub for the entire southeastern part of the Barpeta district. Bahari is also famous for the Satra which is establish by Mahapurux Sri Sri Haridev.
- Sarthebari
- A small town known for its bell-metal works.
- Kalgachia
- A Town in the west of the district.
- Sarupeta
- A town situated near Bhawanipur town. There is a railway station.
- Barbhitha
- A village of the southwest border of Barpeta district.
- Mandia
- Mandia is another town in the south part of the district.
Educational institutions
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Barpeta was opened on 1 April 2003 in the civil sector with 200 students spread over in classes I to V.The vidyalaya has been upgraded to class XII(Science Stream) in the session 2010-11 with a total strength of 528.KV Barpeta is affiliated with CBSE.
- Barbhitha High School, established in 1947, located in the southwestern part of Barpeta District
- Padmapara High School, established in 1981, located in Padmapara village in the southeastern part of Barpeta district
- K. K. Pathak High School, Kalgachia, established in 1975,located in Kalgachia town in the western part of Barpeta district
Economy
In 2006 the Indian government named Barpeta one of the country’s 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640.) It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF.)
Divisions
There are eight Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Barpeta, Baghbor, Bhawanipur, Chenga, Jania, Patacharkuchi, Sarukhetri, Sorbhog. Sorbhog is in the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency, whilst the other seven are in the Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency.
Demographics
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2019)
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 100,258 | — |
| 1911 | 120,332 | +1.84% |
| 1921 | 161,292 | +2.97% |
| 1931 | 272,623 | +5.39% |
| 1941 | 392,750 | +3.72% |
| 1951 | 466,475 | +1.74% |
| 1961 | 607,434 | +2.68% |
| 1971 | 828,404 | +3.15% |
| 1991 | 1,163,166 | +1.71% |
| 2001 | 1,394,755 | +1.83% |
| 2011 | 1,693,622 | +1.96% |
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According to the 2011 census, the Barpeta district has a population of 1,693,622, roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau or the US state of Idaho. This gives it a ranking of 292nd in India (out of a total of 640.) The district has a population density of 632 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,640/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 21.4%. Barpeta has a sex ratio of 951 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 65.03%. With the divided district, the population is 1,439,806.
Languages
Languages in Barpeta district (2011)
At the time of the 2011 census in the residual district, 68.89% of the population spoke Bengali, 29.39% Assamese and 1.03% Bodo as their first language.
Religions
In Barpeta district, as per the 2011 Indian census, Islam is most followed religion with 1,117,033 adherents forming 77.58% of the population, while Hinduism is followed by 320,578 which is 22.27% of the population. Small percentages of followers of Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are also present.