South Arcot District (Madras Presidency)

It covered the area of the present-day districts of Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Viluppuram in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The district was divided into eight taluks and covered a total area of 13,510 square kilometres (5,217 sq mi).

In ancient times, South Arcot was a part of the Chola and the Pallava kingdoms.

From 1767 to 1790, Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan launched repeated attacks on the region.

Attempts were made in the early part of the 19th century to establish iron mines at Porto Novo but failed due to lack of fuel.

The most important industrial units in the district were the East India Distilleries factories at Nellikuppam and Thiruvennainallur.