Balasore is the 409th most populous city of India with a total population of 1,44,373. The highest employment in Balasore district is in the sectors of Food, Glass/Ceramics, Engineering, Textiles and other household industries. 69% of the workforce is employed in the Agricultural Sector, 28% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 3% are Household workers. The major exportable items are Automobile Tyres, Tubes & Flaps, Paper, Calcium Silicate, Asbestos. Two important rivers of Odisha, Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha, pass through this district from west to east before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Hence there is widespread irrigation in Balasore district. The majorly produced crops are Paddy, Groundnut, Mung and Maize. Fruits like Mango, Citrus, Papaya, Pineapple and Guava are also produced. Balasore or Baleshwar district was part of the ancient Kalinga kingdom which later became a territory of Koshala or Utkal, till the death of Mukunda Dev. It was annexed by the Mughal Empire in 1568 and remained as a part of their suzerainty up until the 1700s. The British East India Company (EIC) established a factory at Balasore in 1633. Balasore became the center for river pilot services for vessels seeking to ascend the Hooghli River. The Marathas then occupied this part of Odisha. Balasore as a separate district was created in October 1828. With the creation of Odisha as a separate State on 1 April, 1936 Balasore became an integral part of Odisha State. On 3 April 1993, Bhadrak sub-division became a separate district and from this day Balasore remains a district of Odisha.
