History

The history of Kozhikode district as an administrative unit begins from January 1957. When the States of the Indian Union were re-organized on linguistic basis on 1st November, 1956, the erstwhile Malabar district was separated from Madras State (Tamil Nadu) and added to the new unilingual State of Kerala. But Malabar district was found to be too unwieldy for administrative purposes. Consequently, the State government ordered the formation of three districts with certain changes in the boundaries of some of the taluks. The kozhikode district thus came into existence on 1January 1957, originally consisting of five taluks, viz; Vadakara, Koyilandy, Kozhikode, Ernad and Tirur. With the formation of Malappuram district on 1^st June 1969 and Wayanad district on 1^st November 1980, Kozhikode district now consists of one revenue division, three taluks, twelve blocks, 77 Panchayats and 117 villages.

The revenue division is Kozhikode and the three taluks are Vadakara, Koyilandy and Kozhikode. The largest taluk is Kozhikode and the smallest Vadakara. Kozhikode is one among the twelve taluks in the State having an area of more than 1000 sq.kms; it has an area of 1026.6 sq.kms. The areas of Koyilandy and Vadakara taluks are 756.90 sq.kms. and 549.80 sq.kms. respectively.

Kunnummal, balussery, Tuneri, Perambra, Kunnamangalam, Thodannur, Koduvally, Meladi, Vadakara, Panthalayani, Chelannur and Kozhikode are the twelve blocks.

Of the 77 panchayats in the district, 22 panchayats are grouped in the special grade. There are 32 first grade Panchayats and the remaining 23 are second grade ones.

The total area of the district comes to 2344 sq.km; which accounts for six per cent of the total area of the state. Of the total area of the district, 2004 sq.km. are rural and 340 sq.km. urban.

Rural development

There are 12 Community Development Blocks in the District. They are balussery, Chelannur, Kozhikode, Kunnamangalam, Kunnummal, Melady, Panthalayani, Koduvally, Perambra, Thodannur, Tuneri and Vadakara. The first Community Development Block in the district was formed in Kunnummal in October 1956. Of the 12 blocks, Koduvally is the largest followed by Kunnamangalam. Vadakara is the smallest block in area. According to 1991 census kunnamangalam stands top in population while Melady has the lowest population. Clause after later centres.

1.  Balussery

Balussery block has an area of 278.54 sq.kms. There are Eight Grama Panchayats in the Block, namely Atholi, Balussery, koorachundu, Kottur, naduvannur, panangad, Uliyeri and Unnikulam. The total population is 212592; Males – 105962 and females – 106631.

2.  Chelannur

Chelannur block is situated in the northwestern part of Kozhikode taluk with an area of 138.66 sq.kms. This block has a total population of 1,83,331; Males – 90,299 and females – 93035. The seven Grama panchayats in the block are Chelannur, Elathur, Thalakkulathur, Kakkur, Nanmenda and Narikkuni.

3.  Kozhikode

Kozhikode block covers an area of 79.22 sq.kms. The block has Six Grama Panchayats namely Beypore, Cheruvannur, Feroke, Kadalundi, Olvanna, and Ramanaattukara. The total population of the block is 2,56,796. Males – 1,26,880 and females – 1,29,916.

4.  Koduvally

Koduvally block lies in the southeastern corner of the district. It spreads over an area of 465.76 sq.kms. The block has nine panchayats. They are Kizhakoth, Koduvallyy, Madavur, Thiruvambady, koodaranhi, Omassery, Puthuppady, Kattippara and Thamarassery. The total population of the block is 2,27,833. Of this males are 1,13,875 and females 1,13,958.

5.  Kunnamangalam

Kunnamangalam block, with an area of 337.93 sq.kms. is situated in the midland and highland regions. The block comprises of 10 panchayats, namely, Chathamangalam, Karassery, kodencherry, Kodiyathur, Kunnamangalam, Kuruvattur, mavoor, Mukkom, Perumanna and Peruvayal. Total Population of the block is 2,85,788; (Males – 1,43,490 and female 1,42,298).

6.  Kunnummal

Kunnummal block, covering an area of 262.53 sq.kms. is situated in the North-Eastern part of the district. This block which comprises of eight Grama panchayaths namely Kavilumpara, Kayakkodi, Kunnummal, Kuttiadi, Maruthonkara, Nadapuram, Narippatta and Velom has a population of 1,74,652; Males-86,354 and females-88, 298.

7.  Melady

Melady is a coastal block situated in Koyilandy taluk. The block has an area of 60.66 sq.kms. and a population of 91,571; males-44,327 an females-47,244. The five panchayats in the block are Keezhariyur, Payyoli, Thurayoor, Thikkodi and Meppayur.

8.  Panthalayani

Panthalayani is a coastal block with an area of 69.50 sq.kms. The block is having 20 kms. Of coastal line, comprises of four grama panchayats, namely Chengottu kavu, Chemmancheri, Arikulam and Moodadi. The block has a population of 1,07,268; (Males-51788 and females – 55,480)

9.  Perambra

Perambra lies almost at the centre of the district covering an area of 298.43 sq.kms. The block has a population of 1,71,433; (86,019 males and 85414 females). The block has seven panchayats – Changaroth, Cheruvannur, Kayanna, Koothali, Chakkittapara, Nochad and Perambra.

10.  Thodannur

Thodannur block, lying at the north – eastern part of the district has an area of 96.77 sq.kms. The panchayats in the block are Ayancheri, Maniyur, Thiruvallur and Villiapally. Of the total population of 1,18,583, the males are 57,978 and the females are 60,605.

11.  Tuneri

Tuneri Block has an area of 143.97 sq.kms. The Block comprises of six panchayats, namely, Chekkiad, Edacheri, Purameri, Tuneri, Valayam and Vanimel. The population of the block is 1,26,479; (males-60,947 and females 65,532).

12.  Vadakara

Vadakara is the smallest block in the district with an area of 50.96 sq.kms. The block consists of four grama panchayats, namely Chorode, Eramala, Onchiyam and Azhiyur. The block office is situated at the northern end of Kohikode district. The total population of the block is 1,13,553; (males 59,321 and females 54,232).

In addition to the above institutions, there is the District Rural Development Agency, exclusively for implementing and monitoring the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The District Panchayat President and District Collector are the Chairperson and Chief Executive Director of the Agency respectively. All the funds earmarked under centrally sponsored schemes are routed through the district rural development agency by the government for allocation to various local bodies of this district.

Local Bodies

Of the five Municipal Corporations in the State, one is the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation. Vadakara and Koyilandy are the two municipalities in the district.

Kozhikode became a municipality on 3^rd July 1866. Its population then was 36,602 inhabiting an area of 28.48 sq.kms. It was then made a corporation and the first corporation council assumed office on the first November 1962.

The population of Kozhikode has steadily risen from 1966 when it stood at 36,602 to 4,19,831 in 1991 (including the institutional and houseless persons). Accordng to the 1991 census, the number of males in the city are 2,07,016 and females 2,12,815. Of the total of 3,43,498 literates, males are 1,74,545 and females 1,68,953.

The Kozhikode Corporation has geographical area of 82.67 sq.kms. For purposes of revenue collection, etc. the Corporation has been divided into 39 survey wards. But for purposes of election, it has been divided into 50 electoral divisions on the basis of population, each division being represented by one member.

The Kozhikode city, known as the Second Mecca of football lovers (first being Calcutta) has a flood-lit stadium constructed by the Municipal Corporation. Near to this, stands a pucca indoor stadium of the District Sports Council.

Kozhikode city continues to be a centre of flourishing domestic and international trade. Its contribution to all round development of the district in trade, commerce and economic development over the years is spectacular. Kozhikode city is the marketing centre for commodities like pepper coconut, coffee, rubber, lemon grass oil etc., produced in Kozhikode and the neighbouring districts of Wayanad, Malappuram and Kannur.

The Kozhikode Development Authority was formed on May 15, 1980, with the aim of planned development. The authority covers Kozhikode Municipal Corporation and suburban panchayats, namely, Elathur, Kakkodi, Kuruvatoor, Kunnamamgalam. Peruvayal, Olavanna, Parumanna, Cheruvannur, Nallalam, Beypore, Feroke, Kadalundy and Ramanattukara. A master plan has been prepared for the development of Kozhikode urban area.

Vadakara, Koyilandy Municipalities

The Vadakara Municipality was constituted on 1^st October 1958 comprising of Vadakara panchayat and the nearby villages of Puduppanam and Nadkkuthazha. The first municipal council came into existence in 1962. The geographical area of the municipality is 21.34 sq.kms. The municipal area is divided into 32 wards.

According to 2001 census, the population of Vadakara Municipality is 68970. The number of males and females are 32,923 and 36,047 espectively.

Koyilandy Municipality was constituted on 1^st April 1993. The Koyilandi Panchayat has been upgraded as a municipality. The geographical area of the municipality is 21.61 sq.kms. Municipal area is divided into 32 wards. The total population of the municipality is 75740. The number of males and females are 36,457 and 39,283 respectively.

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