Mehsana is the 248th most populous city of India with a total population of 1,84,991. The highest employment in Mehsana district is in the sectors of Agriculture, Cotton Textile, Chemical, Mineral and other household industries. 53% of the workforce is employed in the Agricultural Sector, 46% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 1% are Household workers. The major rivers of the district are Sabarmati, Rupen, Saraswati, Khari, Pushpawati. The major crops of Mehsana are Wheat, Potato, Cotton, Tobacco, Oilseeds, Castor Seeds, Cumin, Psyllium and Aniseed. Asias second largest dairy Dudhsagar Milk Cooperative Dairy and largest market yard Unjha is located in Mehsana. Mehsana is the largest producer of lemon and Fennel seed in Gujarat. Mehsaji Chavda, a Rajput and an heir of Chavda dynasty, established Mehsana. He constructed the Torana (arc gate) of the city and a temple dedicated to Goddess Toran in Vikram Samvat 1414 (1358 AD). It is believed that the town was founded during the Rajput period. Another legend says that Mehsaji established it in Vikram Samvat 1375 (1319 AD). Gaekwads conquered Baroda and established Baroda State. They expanded their rule in north Gujarat and established Patan as its administrative headquarters. Later the headquarters was moved to Kadi and subsequently to Mehsana in 1902. Baroda State was merged with Union of India after independence in 1947. It was merged in Bombay State as Mehsana district. Later it became part of Gujarat in 1960 after bifurcation of Bombay state into Gujarat and Maharashtra. Mehsana is the headquarters of Mehsana district in north Gujarat.
