“Rajanpur” has been named after its Headquarter town, Rajanpur, which was founded by a Sheikh Rajan Shah in 1732-33. The new District of Rajanpur was carved out of the old D.G. Khan district. Rajanpur comprises of the old Tehsils of Jampur and Rajanpur. Rojhan area of the former Rajanpur Tehsil was converted into the 3rd Tehsil of the district. The tribal areas, along the foothill of the Sulaiman Range, of the D.G. Khan were also partitioned and the Southern parts of the said Tribal areas now form the Tribal area of Rajanpur District. The total Tribal Area of Rajanpur District is 5013Sq Km and the total Population of the area is 34,230 as per census of 2017. The word “Rajanpur” possesses a kind of romantic dignity in its name. The Geo strategic location of the district reveals its ineffectiveness as an area of operations for the invaders who descended down from the North into India through the passes of the Hindukosh Mountains. The district did not promise bright prospects of settled life for the human habitations due to the barren nature of its soil and the adversity of its climate conditions. From the Aryans up to the coming of the immigrants and the settlers, none ever felt encouraged to direct their way to this area for settlement and colonization. The Baloch are the principal race among the people inhabiting this district. They are an interesting blend of tribal chivalry and the spirit of traditionalism. All the tribes/castes and the sub castes of the district have a very strong complex of identity and have, therefore, still retained their individuality in the fabric of their social and cultural life.
The river Indus passing through the district has served as principal route of trade and commerce from the plains down to the sea since times immemorial. In spite of its yawing periods of political seclusion from the main lands, the district has provided geographical continuity between such areas as the provinces of the Punjab, Baluchistan and Sindh. Historical events occurring anywhere around these regions must have affected the destiny of this area as well. The advent of the British in India had given new dimensions to the spirit of adventurism in the ‘art of empire making’. So an end to the geographical seclusion and political isolation of the area was only a matter of time. The total population of the District, according to the 1981 census, was 6,37,325. The data of Population of Rajanpur District is divided into different Tehsils and political area. According to the latest census, the 82% population of the district is directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture.