The district of Paschim Medinipur is also known as West Midnapore district. The name was changed recently in tribute to the native Bengali Language. The district came into existence in the year 2002 when the district of Midnapore (Medinipur) was split and divided into Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur. The main administrative headquarters of the district of Paschim Medinipur is the city of Medinipur. The district is mainly divided into four extremely important divisions: Kharagpur, Medinipur Sadar, Ghatal and Jhargram. The Kharagpur division also holds a base of the Indian Air Force. The district is over a land area of 9372 sq km which in turn holds a huge population of 59 lacs individuals. The density of population is about 631 people per sq km. In spite of the huge population and vast fertile lands, the economy of the district is not at all good. The district is among the ones that is under the list of the 250 most backward district of India.