Washim district

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Washim.
Washim

District district
वाशिम जिल्हा

District of Maharashtra


Location of Washim

District district in Maharashtra
Country India
State Maharashtra
Administrative division Amravati Division
Headquarters Washim
Tehsils 1. Malegaon, 2. Mangrulpir, 3. Karanja, 4. Manora, 5. Washim, 6. Risod
Government
  Lok Sabha constituencies 1. Yavatmal-Washim shared with Yavatmal district, 2. Akola (shared with Akola District) (Based on Election Commission website)
  Assembly seats 4
Area
  Total 5,150 km2 (1,990 sq mi)
Population (2011)
  Total 12,97,160
  Density 250/km2 (650/sq mi)
  Urban 17.49%
Demographics
  Literacy 83.25%
  Sex ratio 943
Major highways 1
Average annual precipitation 750-1000 mm
Website Official website

Washim is a district in Maharashtra, India. The headquarters is at Washim. The area of the district is 5,150 km².

Demography and Geography

The district had a population of 1,020,216 of which 17.49% were urban as of 2001. Washim is located in the eastern region of Vidharbha. Akola lies to its north, Amravati lies to its north-east, Hingoli lies to its south, Buldhana lies to its west, Yavatmal lies to its east. River Penganga is the main river of the district. It flows through the Tehsil of Risod. Later it flows through the boundary of Washim and Hingoli districts. River Kas is the main tributary of Penganga. River Kas meets Penganga about 1 km from the village of Shelgaon Rajgure. River Arunavati and its tributaries originates in the Tehsil of Washim and them flows through the tehsils of Mangrul Pir and Manora into the district of Yavatmal. River Katepurna originates in the hilly areas of the district and flows northwards through the tehsil of Malegaon and enters the Akola district.

There are hilly ranges extending from through the tehsils of Malegaon, Washim, Mangrul Pir and Manora. There is plain region in the basins of River Penganga in the Risod Tehsil. The important cities are Washim, Risod, Karanja, Malegaon, Mangrul Pir, Manora and Shirpur. Washim is the largest city in the district. There are many well known hospitals, Schools, Colleges and Banks in Washim City. It is specially famous for its Balaji Temple. It also has a railway junction. By railway is connected to Akola, Purna, Nanded and Khandwa. Karanja is another city. It has another railway junction. There are some parts covered by the forests. There are mainly two regions. Both the regions are protected under Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary and Karanja Sohol Wildlife Sanctuary respectively.[1]

History

The account of Berar in the Ain-i-Akbari was added to that work in 1596-97. The greater part of the Akola district was included in Akbar's sorkar or revenue district of Narnala, but some of the parganas of this Sarkar are now included in Buldhana, while Akola, on the other hand, includes three parganas of Akbar's revenue district of Bashim. The whole revenue demand for the area now included in the Akola district seems to have been nearly twenty-four lakhs of rupees. The only special notice of any places in the District has reference to Balapur, Shahpur, and Bashim. Near Balapur, says Abdul Fazl, are two streams, about the borders of which are found various kinds of pretty stones, which are cut and kept as curiosities. Six kos distant were the headquarters of Sultan Murad, which grew into a fine city under the name of Shahpur'. Of Bashim he writes, 'About Bashim is an Indigenous race, for the most part proud and refractory, called Hatkars their forces consist of 1000 cavalry and 5000 infantry.' He adds that the Hatkars, who are Dhangar, are Rajput which is true.

Washim district was formed on 1 July 1998. Washim was once known as Vatsagulma, the capital of the Vatsagulma line of Vakataka dynasty. In the year 1905 during the period of the British Raj Washim district was bifurcated into two separate districts, namely, Akola District and Yavatmal District. It again became a district in 1998.

Divisions

This district is divided into 2 sub-divisions, namely, Washim and Mangrulpir. These are further divided into 6 talukas (tehsils). The talukas are Malegaon, Mangrulpir, Karanja, Manora, Washim and Risod.[2]

Presently, there are 3 Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies in this district. These are Karanja, Risod and Washim. While, Risod is part of Akola Lok Sabha constituency, Karanja and Washim are part of Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha constituency.[3]

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Washim district has a population of 1,196,714,[4] roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste[5] or the US state of Rhode Island.[6] This gives it a ranking of 398th in India (out of a total of 640).[4] The district has a population density of 244 inhabitants per square kilometre (630/sq mi) .[4] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.23%.[4] Washim has a sex ratio of 926 females for every 1000 males,[4] and a literacy rate of 81.7%.[4]

References

  1. Indian Census
  2. "District wise List of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra website. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  4. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. Timor-Leste 1,177,834 July 2011 est.
  5. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Rhode Island 1,052,567

Coordinates: 20°06′04″N 77°08′13″E / 20.101048°N 77.136954°E / 20.101048; 77.136954

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