Latehar district is one of the 24 districts of Jharkhand state in eastern India, and Latehar town is the administrative headquarters of this district. This district is part of Palamu division.
Latehar district is situated on longitude 84° 31′ E and 23° 44.4′ N latitude. The area of the district is 3660 km², with a population of 726,978 (2011 census).
History
The territory covered by the present district became a part of Palamu district, when it formed on 1 January 1928. Latehar district was created on 4 April 2001 by separating the erstwhile Latehar subdivision of Palamu district. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.
Administration
Blocks/Mandals
Latehar district consists of 9 blocks. The following are the list of the blocks in Latehar district:
- Latehar Block
- Chandwa Block
- Balumath Block
- Manika Block
- Barwadih Block
- Garu Block
- Mahuadanar Block
- Bariyatu Block
- Herhanj Block
Geography
- Latehar district has two of the highest waterfalls in Jharkhand – Lodh Falls and Lower Ghaghri Falls, along with several others.
- Betla National Park is located in this District.
Economy
In 2006 the Indian government named Latehar one of the country’s 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Divisions
There are 9 development blocks, namely Latehar, Chandwa, Balumath, Bariyatu, Herhanj, Manika, Barwadih, Garu and Mahuadanr
There are two Vidhan Sabha constituencies in this district: Manika and Latehar. Both are part of Chatra Lok Sabha constituency.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 126,790 | — |
| 1911 | 140,616 | +1.04% |
| 1921 | 149,957 | +0.65% |
| 1931 | 167,407 | +1.11% |
| 1941 | 186,627 | +1.09% |
| 1951 | 201,560 | +0.77% |
| 1961 | 239,575 | +1.74% |
| 1971 | 299,630 | +2.26% |
| 1981 | 359,930 | +1.85% |
| 1991 | 457,040 | +2.42% |
| 2001 | 560,894 | +2.07% |
| 2011 | 726,978 | +2.63% |
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According to the 2011 census Latehar district has a population of 726,978. Roughly equal to the nation of Bhutan or the US state of Alaska. This gives it a ranking of 499th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 200 inhabitants per square kilometre (520/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 29.38%. Latehar has a sex ratio of 964 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 61.23%. Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 21.3% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 45.5% of total population.
Hindus are 65.07%, while other religions (Sarna) are 18.37%. Muslims are 9.60% and Christians are 6.55%.