Vazhapadi
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vazhapadi
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town panchayat
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = Tamil Nadu#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Map showing the location of the town in Tamil Nadu, India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|11|39|22|N|78|24|06|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Tamil Nadu
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name2 =
| subdivision_type3 = District
| subdivision_name3 = Salem
| subdivision_type4 = Taluk
| subdivision_name4 = Vazhapadi taluk
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 8
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 17,559
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Tamil
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 636115
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +914292
| registration_plate = TN-77
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Vazhapadi (Valapady, or Valappadi) is a town panchayat in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of Vazhapadi taluk, one of the 13 taluks of Salem district.{{cite web|title=Salem district map|url=https://salem.nic.in/district-maps/|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|date=2021-02-15|access-date=2021-02-24}}
Geography
Vazhapadi is within Vazhapadi taluk, which is the central part of Salem district. It covers {{convert|8|km2|sqmi}} in the eastern part of the taluk, near the border with Attur taluk. National Highway 79 passes to the south of the town, and the only railroad line in the taluk runs through the town. It is {{convert|25|km|mi}} east of Salem, the district headquarters, {{convert|200|km|mi}} north of Madurai, and {{convert|250|km|mi}} southwest of the state capital of Chennai.{{cite web|title=Salem District Census Handbook (A)|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/33/3307_PART_A_DCHB_SALEM.pdf|publisher=censusindia.gov.in|date=2011|access-date=2021-02-24}}
Demographics
In 2011 Vazhapadi had a population of 17,559 people living in 4,582 households. 8,843 (50.4%) of the inhabitants were male, while 8,716 (49.6%) were female. 1,679 children in the town, about 9.6% of the population, were at or below the age of 6. The literacy rate in the town was 74.4%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 26.4% and 0.26% of the population, respectively.{{cite web|title=Salem District Census Handbook (B)|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3307_PART_B_DCHB_SALEM.pdf|publisher=censusindia.gov.in|date=2011|access-date=2021-02-24}}
Politics
Former union minister Vazhappady K. Ramamurthy was born in Vazhapadi. He served as Union Minister of Petroleum as part of NDA government under Atal Behari Vajpayee. He was widely known as Valappadiyar.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}