Jalpaiguri Subdivision
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Jalpaiguri Subdivision
Head-quarters subdivision of Jalpaiguri District, Eastern Bengal and Assam, lying between 26degree and 27 degree N. and 88° 20' and 89 degree 7' E., with an area of 1,820 square miles. The population was 668,027 in 1901, compared with 608,289 in 1891. It contains one town, Jalpaiguri (population, 9,708), its head-quarters, and 588 villages, and has a density of 367 persons per square mile, or more than three times that of the Alfpur subdivision. The general aspect of the subdivision is that of an extensive plain, undiversified by hills or any large sheet of water, but containing extensive forests.
The country is level and open, and is watered by several large rivers, including the Tista and Jaldhaka. It comprises two totally distinct tracts. The Maynagurl and Dam-Dim thanas and the Dhupgari out- post, which form part of the Western Duars acquired from Bhutan in 1865, are rapidly increasing in population and prosperity on account of the expansion of the tea industry ; while the population of the western thanas y which are permanently settled and originally formed part of Rangpur, is declining. There are interesting ruins at Bhitar- garh and Jalpes. The chief centres of commerce are Jalpaiguri town, Titalya, Baura, and Maynagurt.
