After YANDABOO in 1826 , Lt. J. Mathie was appointd as the Political agent at Jorhat in 1830 .
The old Sibsagar district with administrative H.Q. at Jorhat was balkanized into Golaghat , Jorhat and Sibsagar district.

            The present district of Jorhat in the present form came into being after separation of
Golaghat district .
 

3.01   A Profile :
 

• Location              -27.35* N to 26.30* N latitude & 93.45* E to 94.30* E Longitude .

• Geographical area  -  2851 Sq. K.M. = 285100 hec.

• Rural  - 278.36 sq. Km.

• Urban – 69.64 sq. Km.

• Population  ( 2001 Census )  -  10.91 Lakhs.

• Literacy percentage  -  77.91%

• No of villages – 866 nos .

• No. of Town  -  2 Nos.  Jorhat and  Mariani.

• Density of Population  -  354 P/Km.

Total Crop area  =  152379 hec i.e. 53.44 %

Area used for purpose other than cultivation  = 108317 hec.

Area under Small Tea Garden  -  150.60 hec.

No. of Tea Gardens  -  139 Nos.

Total No. of Job seeker as per employment  -  90,606 Nos.

Source: Employment Exchange live register.

Total No. of registered  SSI Units -  1357.

( source Statistical Hand Book Assam – 2002 )

No. of Sub-Divisions  -  3 Nos. (1) Jorhat Sadar , (2) Majuli , (3)  Titabor.

No. of Development  Block  -  8 Nos.

NAME OF  DEV. BLOCK                                                       DISTANCE FROM HQ.

No. of Zila Parishad  constituency  -  23  Nos.

No. of Gaon Panchayat  =  111  Nos.

No.  of  Revenue  Circle  -  6  Nos.

No.  of  Police  Station  -  10  Nos.

No.  of  Police  Out post  -  17  Nos.

No.  of Primary  School  -  1526 Nos.

No.  of  H.E.  School  -  318  Nos.

No.  of  H.S.  School  -  19  Nos.

No.  of  College  -  14  Nos.

Border  road  along  Nagaland  -  101  KM

No.  of  Air  Port  -  1  No.

No. of LAC  -  5 and 1 part

1. Mariani  LAC

2. Teok  LAC

3. Titabor  LAC

4. Jorhat  LAC

5. Majuli  LAC

6. Dergaon  LAC  (Part)

No. of HPC  -  3  ( in part )   – 1.Jorhat   2. Koliabor   3. Lakhimpur

University  -  1.  Assam Agricultural  University.

Engineering  College  -  1.  Assam  Engineering  College.

Research  institute –

1.       Tocklai Tea Research  Station.

2.       Regional Research  Laboratory.

3.       Central Muga Research Institute.

4.       Rain Forest Research Institute.

3.02  TOPOGRAPHY:

The district has a varied topography. On the north lies the famous Majuli island, the soil of which
is mostly alluvial. The southern part of the district extends to the foothills of Nagaland state and
the soil here is very suitable for tea plantation. Major part of the district is characterized by plain
and casually interspersed by small hills.

The Brahmaputra river flows through the middle of the district from east to west, There are three
 tributaries which flow through the district, viz, Jhanji, Bhogdoi and Kakodonga. These tributaries
are the main source of water for agriculture in the district. Although during the rainy season the
river overflows its banks, seldom does it cause heavy damage particularly to the south of the
district. The rainy season from April to September provides the much needed water for the Sali
crop which can grow without irrigation facilities.

The district can be divided into three distinct regions:

1. Flood Prone Area : The flood prone area is situated in the riverine tract of the river
   Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

2. Drought Prone Area : The drought prone areas are generally marked at the foot hills  area along the Nagaland Hills .The  unique feature  is that   due to large scale  deforestation at Nagaland ,the rivulets   carry huge amount of  silt  rend rent  the bosoms shallow . So after a  shower the banks are  over-topped  but after a couple of  hours or so   rivulets and  areas along the banks became dry once again .

3. Normal Area : Other than the flood prone and drought areas.

3.03  CLIMATE :

Jorhat district experiences moderate climate. The temperature varies between 9°C to 39°C.
The district receives rainfall on an average at 2244 mm with north-west monsoon contributing
a major share.

3.04  POPULATION:

According to 2001 census, the provisional population of Jorhat district stood at 10,09,197 as
against 8,71,206 in 1991 census. During the period 1991 - 2001, the population of the district
recorded a growth rate of 15.84% whereas the population for the same period in Assam
increased by 18.85%. The decadal variation in population in Jorhat vis-a-vis Assam is given
below :

Table 02 : Decadal variation in population

(in percentage)

Source : Census of India 2001, provisional population.

03 : Rural and urban population

Source : Census of India 2001, Provisional population totals, paper 2 of 2001.

The percentage of urban population has increased from 15% to 17% between 1991-2001. The number of towns has increased from 3 in 1991 to 7 in 2001. Five of them are however census towns only.

3.05  Literacy:

Jorhat district owns the distinction of being the district with highest literacy. It is much above
the state figure also.

04 : Literacy rate in Jorhat vis-a-vis Assam

(in percentage)

Source : Census of India, 2001, Provisional population totals, paper 2 of 2001.

The literacy percentage has increased from 65.51% to 77.91% between 1991- 2001. Even female
literacy is very high in the district which has brought about an increase in the overall literacy
position. Literacy rate of Jorhat district is the highest both in rural and urban areas in the state.
The highest female literacy (72.54%) in the state comes from this district.

3.06  ECONOMIC PROFILE:

As per the HDI report, the per capita NSDP of the district is almost double the state average and
also better than the All-India average. As already stated, the district is also the first in rank in the
HDI index. Thus, the district is relatively one of the better off districts of the state.

Table 05 : Distribution of Per capita NSDP, 2000-01 (at constant 93- 94prices,)

Source: HDI Report, 2003 & Statistical Outline of India, 2002-03