Background, Geographic Area and Location: Originally, Faridpur was named Fatehabad. Subsequently, it was renamed as Faridpur after the name of a renowned saint named Shah Farid who settled here at the early thirteenth century. He was buried in the present place of Faridpur town after his death.
The zila is bounded on the north by Manikganj, Dhaka and Rajbari zilas, on the east by Madaripur, Dhaka and Munshiganj zilas, on the south by Gopalganj and Madaripur zilas and on the west by Rajbari, Magura and Narail zilas. It lies between 23° 17' and 23° 40' north latitude and between 89° 29' and 90° 11' east longitudes. Faridpur zila consists of 8 upazila, 79 unions, 1,038 mauzas and 1,859 villages. It also comprised of 4 paurashavas, 36 paura wards and 94 mahallas. The total area of the zila is 2,052.86 sq.km (792.00 sq.miles).
Annual Average Temperature: Maximum 35.8°C and minimum 12.6°C; annual rainfall is 1546 mm.
Main Rivers: Padma, Old Kumar, ARIAL KHAN, Gorai, Chandana, Bhubanshwar and Lohartek; main depressions are Dhol Samudra, Beel Ramkeli, Shakuner Beel, Ghoradar Beel.
Faridpur (Town) stands on both sides of the Kumar River.
Administration: Faridpur zila was established in 1815. Faridpur municipality was established in 1869. The zila consists of 9 upazilas, 79 unions, 997 mauzas, 1899 villages, 4 paurashavas, 36 wards and 100 mahallas. The upazilas are FARIDPUR SADAR, BOALMARI, ALFADANGA, MADHUKHALI, BHANGA, NAGARKANDA, CHAR BHADRASAN, SADARPUR and SALTHA.
Archaeological Heritage and Relics: Garoda Mosque (1013 AH), Pathrail Mosque and dighi (1493-1519 AD), Satoir Mosque (1519 AD), Fatehabad Taksal (1519-32), Mathurapur Wall, Zila Judge Court building (1889 AD) and Bhanga Munsif Court Building (1889), Basudeva Mandir and Jagabandhu Angina.
Historical Events: Faridpur was named after the famous sufi saint Shah Sheikh Fariduddin. Hazi Shariatullah started his Faraizi movement in the zila. Indigo was being cultivated on the banks of the rivers Garai, Madhumati, Barasia, Chandana, Kumar etc. The main kuthi (indigo headquarter) was located in Mirganj of Alfadangha upazila; and its manager was A.C. Dunlop. Like other parts of Bengal there were INDIGO RESISTANCE MOVEMENT in this zila under the leadership of Pir Dudu Mia.
Marks of War of Liberation: Mass grave 4, mass killing site 4, memorial 2, memorial sculpture 1.
Main Crops: Paddy, jute, peanut, wheat, oilseed, pulse, turmeric, onion, garlic and coriander.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops are Indigo, kusumphul, kaun, kalijira, china, arahar, barley, corn, tobacco, linseed, sesame, bhura, mesta, sanpat.
Main Fruits: Mango, jackfruit, black berry, palm, coconut, betel nut, kul, tetul, ata, bel, papaya, banana, guava, jamrul.
Traditional Transport: Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart, goina nauka, bhela, dhuli, kahar.
Main Exports: Jute, onion, garlic, date molasses, palm molasses, sugarcane molasses, pulse.
