Hapur district (earlier Panchsheel Nagar) is a recently formed district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with a population of 1,338,211 at the 2011 Census. It arose as an area leading in the trade of grains and jaggery. This district on the Ganges river is 60 kilometres (37 mi) from New Delhi.[1] Being located on the river could be a reason for its prosperity in trade. It is the smallest district of Uttar Pradesh.
History
The new district Panchsheel Nagar, was created from the tehsils of Hapur, Garhmukteshwar and Dhaulana (which were previously part of Ghaziabad district) as one of three new districts of Uttar Pradesh on 28 September 2011. U.P. Chief Minister Mayawati justified the decision by declaring that Ghaziabad district was "far too big for administrative efficiency", and that creating smaller districts conformed to the ideas proposed by social reformers B. R. Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule.[2]
The district was renamed from Panchsheel Nagar to Hapur district on 23 July 2012.[3] Hapur district is a part of Meerut division.
The district population at the 2011 census was 1,338,311. Hapur has a sex ratio of 887 females per 1000 males. 409,747 (30.62%) lived in urban areas. Scheduled Castes made up 293,410 (21.92%) of the population.[7]