Rajapalayam (Tamil: [ɾaːdʑabaːɭaɪjam]) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest municipality in the Virudhunagar district^{[citation needed]}. Rajapalayam is located on the Madurai to Quilon National Highway at a distance of 562 km south of the state capital Chennai. The economy is primarily industrial with several mills for spinning and weaving. The town is known for its mango and the Rajapalayam breed of dogs.

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Rajapalayam
Town
Rajapalayam 6th Mile Dam
Nickname:  Cotton City
Rajapalayam Rajapalayam (Tamil Nadu) Show map of Tamil Nadu Rajapalayam Rajapalayam (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 09°27′05.4″N 77°33′15.5″E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Virudhunagar district
Revenue Division	Sattur
Taluk	Rajapalayam
Government
• Type	Special Grade Municipality
• Body	Rajapalayam Special grade municipality
• MLA	Thangappandian.S (2019–Current)
Area
• Total	11.36 km2 (4.39 sq mi)
• Rank	1 in district
Elevation	187 m (614 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	130,442
• Rank	34
• Density	11,000/km2 (30,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Rajapalayathaan
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Pincode(s)	626117,626108,626110
Area code	+91-4563
Vehicle registration	TN 67, TN 84

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The climate of the region is of the semi-arid tropical monsoon type. The average temperature range is 20 °C to 37 °C.

According to the 2011 census, Rajapalayam had a population of 130,442 with 1,014 females for every 1,000 males, far above the national average of 929.^[1] A total of 11,604 individuals (5,927 males and 5,677 females) were under the age of six. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 13.51% and 0.09% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 77.87%; the national average was 72.99%.^[1] The town has a total of 37,797 households. There are 53,913 workers, comprising 380 cultivators, 3,676 main agricultural labourers, 1,375 in household industries, 45,223 other workers, 3,259 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 326 marginal agricultural labourers, 286 marginal workers in household industries and 2,613 other marginal workers.^[2] According to the religious census of 2011, the population is 94.53% Hindu, 3.48% Muslim, 1.75% Christian, 0.02% Sikh and 0.21% other.^[3]

The mountains of the Western ghats are to the west of the town (12 km from the town), and the Sanjeevi hills are to the east. These moderate the climate, and several water catchment areas in the hills provide water for the town. Water is stored in the 6th mile water reservoir. There are several major lakes around the town, including Kondaneri, Karungulam, Pirandaikulam, and Sengulam. The soil in the area is classified by the government as red loam.^[4] The area of the municipality^[5] is about 11.36 sq.kms which makes the town the biggest municipality in Virudunagar district.^[6]

The principal industry was initially agriculture. In 1936, Thiru P. A. C. Ramasamy Raja started the first cotton spinning mill, called Rajapalayam Mills Ltd. Later, more textile mills were started. Today, Rajapalayam is a major hub of the textile industry, famous for bandages, woven fabric, nightwear, and other products. The neighboring town of Chatrapatti (Virudhunagar Dist.) is a large player in producing surgical cotton gauze, and nearby Dhalavaipuram and Muhavoor manufacture women's nightwear.

• P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1949–1952) and Governor of Orissa (1954–1956)
• S. Peter Alphonse, Indian National Congress politician elected to Tamil Nadu legislative assembly twice from Tenkasi constituency (1989 and 1991) and once from Kadayanallur constituency (2006)
• Shiva Ayyadurai
• Vijay Sethupathi
• Samuthirakani
• Vasantha Balan
• Muthukaalai
• A.A Subba Raja, Municipal chairman for 6 terms and 1 time MLA
• N.A.P. ALAGIRI RAJA, Philanthropist, industrialist, 1st elected chairman of Rajapalayam municipality