Surajpur is the first district to receive National Satyan Maitra Literacy Award.

The district is known for its market (economical and quality product) and other major tourist places of Chhattisgarh with Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.

Due to its mountainous topography, the district largely escaped the turmoil of the surrounding plains.

The earliest inhabitants are said to be the Kols and Gonds, but there is evidence of more widespread civilization in the region.

However, in 1613 CE, while Man Singh was in Surguja to celebrate his son's wedding with the daughter of the local ruler, the Cheros, led by Bhagwant Rai, killed the then-ruler Man Singh's family and took over Palamu.

The British led an expedition to Surguja that ended due to a treaty between them and the Marathas in Nagpur.

In 1818, after the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the Marathas under Appa Sahib Bhonsle ceded the three feudatory states of Surguja, Koriya and Changbhakar to the British government.

Surajpur district has 8 tehsils:[5][6][7][8] According to the Census 2011, total population of 789,043, dwelling in 547 villages.