North Chennai is a geographic term used to refer to the northern part ofChennai city. Though its definition has varied with time and context, it is generally accepted among historians that North Chennai is used for the part of Chennai city situated north of theCoovum River.[1] Encompassing theFort St George andGeorgetown areas from which the city originated, North Chennai is generally considered an area of stagnant growth, but now it is developing that has already reached saturation as a real estate choice.[2] The area is generally notorious for its thick population, narrow roads, poor infrastructure,[3][4] and high incidence of crime.[2][5][6] This characterization is, however, limited to older neighbourhoods close to the sea coast as new areas to the west, likeKilpauk,Anna Nagar,Avadi andAmbattur have good standards of living and acquired desirability as residential areas.
Northwards of Georgetown, extends the Anglo-Indian settlement ofRoyapuram and the historical town ofThiruvottiyur beyond which North Madras gives way to a series of fishing hamlets, individually known askuppam inTamil. TheRed Hills region is known for thePulhal Lake and the central prison. The port ofEnnore located 16 kilometres supplementsChennai Port as a major entrepot for trading vessels. Northwards lieMinjur,Ennore andThiruvottiyur. Westwards lie the industrial suburbs ofPadi,AmbatturAvadi andThiruninravur. The head office will be at Tondiarpet, was comprise Tiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet, Madhavaram, Perambur and Purasawalkam taluks.
North Chennai originated with the founding of an East India Company factory in the village of Madrasapatnam. The grant was confirmed on 22 August 1639 which is generally considered the date of the city's founding and celebrated asMadras Day and the signatories were Francis Day for the East India Company and Damera Venkata Nayaka a Padmanyaka Velama ruler for theVijayanagar Empire. The construction of a small fort was started in 1640 and completed by 1652. This would, by the end of the 18th century, with significant alterations and expansions, become the Fort St George that we know today. Prior to the city's founding, fishing hamlets existed in the area.
Georgetown remained a fashionable residential area till the early 1900s when congestion and lack of cleanliness compelled people to look for areas further south. It was also Chennai'sCentral business district till the 1950s when it was supplanted byT. Nagar.
