“DISTRIBUTION AND GROWTH OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS: A CASE STUDY OF DHULE DISTRICT (M.S.)”.

The present paper focused on the growth and distribution of rural settlements in the study area from 1981 to 2001. There are 678 (2001) villages in the district. These villages are unevenly distributed over the area of 8063.11sq.kms. The district is a part of Northern Maharashtra. It contributes 2.62% total geographical area of the Maharashtra state. Dhule district includes four tehsil namely Dhule, Sakri, Shindkheda and Shirpur. Dhule distinct forms a district geographical unit, as it is occupied by 'Satpuda' ranges in the north. 'Satmala' in the south and central part is occupied by River Tapi basin with her major tributaries like Panzara, Burai and Arunamati.