Before Indian independence in 1947, it was the capital of an expensive zamindari of Barabhum in British India.

Purulia district forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau.

Manbazar subdivision, shown in the map alongside, is located in the eastern part of the district.

The Mukutmanipur Dam is in Bankura district but the upper portion of the reservoir is in Manbazar subdivision.

The remnants of old temples and deities are found in the subdivision also, as in other parts of the district.

[1][2][3][4] Writing in 1911, H. Coupland, ICS, speaks of the aboriginal races largely predominating in the old Manbhum district.

[6][7] According to the 2011 Census of India, Barabazar had a total population of 8,056 of which 4,195 (52%) were males and 3,861 (48%) were females.

The total number of literate persons in Barabazar was 5,751 (80.15% of the population over 6 years).

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Puruliya, Barabazar covered an area of 3.35 km2.