The fortress at Chengalpattu, built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century, was of strategic importance, owing to its swampy surroundings and the lake that flanked its side.

[3] In 1639 a local governor or nayak, subject to these kings, granted a piece of coastal land to the British East India Company where Fort St George now stands, which became the nucleus of the city of Madras.

Chengalpattu was taken by the French in 1751 and was retaken in 1752 by Robert Clive, after which it proved of great strategic advantage to the British, especially when Lally failed to capture the fortress in his advance on Madras.

[3] The surrounding district was home to cotton and silk weaving,[3] indigo dyeing, tanneries, and a cigar factory, and extensive salt manufacturing took place along the coast.

There are several modern industries around Chengalpattu, due to the town's proximity to Chennai and its frequent connectivity to other places through rail and road.

Several companies in and around the town like Al-Ohm Inc., Tech Mahindra, Wipro, BMW, Ford, Flextronics, Foxconn, Dell, Samsung, Infosys, Pepsi, TVS, Siemens, Nissan Renault, RLT Instrumentation, Apollo Tyres, Mahindra, Medopharm Pvt Ltd, R & D, Bay forge have production plants near Chengalpattu.

The boat house established by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) in the Kolavai lake which is alongside the NH 45 highway has turned into a place where people can relax with their families on weekends.

The monsoon rains flooded the gates of the lake in December 2005 due to which the TTDC boat club operation has been stopped.

It also serves as a bridge connecting all nearby districts with the renowned tourist places like Mahabalipuram, Muttukadu, theme parks on East Coast Road (ECR), Thirukazhukundram, and Kanchipuram.

In February 2024, an ancient burial site of a child with a pot beside it likely dating back to the neolithic period was unearthed at Chettimedu Pathur.

Chengalpattu railway junction lies in the Main Broad Gauge line and most of the south bound trains stop here.

Express trains are available, running from Chengalpattu to Chennai city area's Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam, Egmore, Park and finally Beach Station.