Sheohar district is an administrative district located in the Tirhut division of the Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the smallest districts in Bihar by area and was carved out of Sitamarhi district in 1994. The district headquarters is the town of Sheohar.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Bihar |
| Division | Tirhut |
| Headquarters | Sheohar |
| Date of formation | 1994 |
| Parent district | Sitamarhi |
| Region | Mithila |
| Common languages | Hindi, Maithili, Bajjika, Urdu |
Sheohar district lies in the northern part of Bihar, in the Indo-Gangetic plain. It is bounded by Sitamarhi district to the north and east, East Champaran (Purvi Champaran) district to the west, and Muzaffarpur district to the south. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, drained by the Bagmati river and its tributaries, which historically have been associated with seasonal flooding.
The district forms part of the Tirhut commissioner's division. It is administratively divided into a small number of community development blocks, including Sheohar, Piprahi, Dumri Katsari, Purnahiya, and Tariyani. The district falls within the Sheohar Lok Sabha constituency for elections to the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and includes the Sheohar Vidhan Sabha constituency for the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
The area covered by present-day Sheohar district has historically been part of the cultural region of Mithila. Before its creation as a separate district, the territory was administered as part of Sitamarhi district. Sheohar was constituted as a distinct district on 6 October 1994 as part of a wider reorganisation that increased the number of districts in Bihar.
According to the 2011 Census of India, Sheohar is among the least populous and smallest districts in Bihar by area, but has a high population density typical of the north Bihar plains. The population is predominantly rural, with agriculture forming the principal source of livelihood. The major languages spoken include Hindi, with Bajjika and Maithili widely used in everyday communication, and Urdu also present.
The economy of Sheohar is largely agrarian. Principal crops include paddy, wheat, maize, sugarcane, and pulses, supported by the fertile alluvial soils of the Bagmati basin. Recurrent flooding has historically affected agricultural productivity and infrastructure in the district.
Sheohar is connected by road to neighbouring districts, including links to Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur, which serve as larger commercial and transport hubs. The nearest major railway junctions and the closest airport with regular services are located outside the district.