Vazhapadi

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Vazhapadi | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Panchayat town | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India | coordinates = {{coord|11|39|22|N|78|24|06|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Tamil Nadu | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Salem | established_title =  | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = 8 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 17559 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Tamil | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | registration_plate = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Vazhapadi''' is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 31 panchayat towns in the district, and is the administrative headquarters of in Vazhapadi taluk. Spread across an area of {{cvt|8|km2}}, it had a population of 17,559 individuals as per the 2011 census.

== Geography and administration == Vazhapadi is located in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 31 panchayat towns in the district, and is the administrative headquarters of in Vazhapadi taluk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/townpanchayats.pdf|title=Town panchayats in Tamil Nadu|work=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cra.tn.gov.in/tn_gvillages.pdf|title=Villages of Tamil Nadu|work=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=1 June 2025|archive-date=12 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112222132/https://www.cra.tn.gov.in/tn_gvillages.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is spread across an area of {{cvt|8|km2}}.<ref name="Pop">{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/india/tamilnadu/salem/3340835000__vazhapadi/|title=Vazhapadi|work=Citypopulation.de|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The town panchayat is headed by a chairperson, who is elected by the members, who are chosen through direct elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/local-government.php|title=Local Government|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 January 2023|page=1|archive-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004071216/https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/local-government.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The town forms part of the Veerapandi Assembly constituency that elects its member to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and the Salem Lok Sabha constituency that elects its member to the Parliament of India.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/web/pslist/english/Salam_eng.pdf|title=Polling stations in Salem district|work=Election Commission of India|access-date=1 June 2025}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Demographics== As per the 2011 census, Vazhapadi had a population of 17,559 individuals across 4,582 households.<ref name="Census">{{cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/api/tables/data/2011/PC11_PCA-TV/255?_source=dt&labels=indicator&state=33&district=608&subdistrict=5742&town_village=803469&geo_level=4&format=csv|title=Geo level data: Census of India 2011|access-date=1 June 2025|publisher=Census Commission of India}}</ref> The population saw a marginal increase compared to the previous census in 2001 when 16,104 inhabitants were registered. The population consisted of 8,843 males and 8,716 females.<ref name="Pop"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 June 2008|publisher=Census Commission of India}}</ref> About 1,679 individuals were below the age of six years.<ref name="Census"/> About 26.4% of the population belonged to scheduled castes. The entire population is classified as urban. The town has an average literacy rate of 82.3%.<ref name="Pop"/><ref name="Census"/>

About 41.6% of the eligible population were employed full-time, of which majority were involved in agriculture and allied activities.<ref name="Pop"/><ref name="Census"/> Hinduism was the majority religion which was followed by 95.4% of the population, with Islam (2.6%) and Christianity (1.9%) being minor religions.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11392/download/14505/DDW33C-01%20MDDS.XLS|title=Religion: Census of India 2011|access-date=1 June 2025|publisher=Census Commission of India}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Cities and towns in Salem district