->Ira Leviton: Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss.

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Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kurseong
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Community development block in India|Community development block]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|26.88|N|88.28|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 372.30
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 94,347
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)|Darjeeling]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Kurseong (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kurseong]]
| website = {{URL|darjeeling.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
|}}
'''Kurseong''' is a [[Community development blocks in India|community development block (CD block)]] that forms an administrative division in the [[Kurseong subdivision]] of the [[Darjeeling district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

==Geography==
Kurseong is located at {{coord|26.88|N|88.28|E|format=dms|}}.

Kurseong CD block is partly in the Kurseong Range physiographic region, south of the Darjeeling Himalayas physiographic region, and partly in the Western Dooars physiographic region, a plain area spread over foothills of the Himalayas. The elevation in the Kurseong Range varies from 300 to 1,800 m and there are many low hill peaks. Western Dooars is a plain area with elevation ranging from 80 to 300 m.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India| work= Page 13: Physiography| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

Kurseong CD block is bounded by the [[Rangli Rangliot (community development block)|Rangli Rangliot]] CD block on the north, [[Kalimpong I]] CD block and [[Rajganj (community development block)|Rajganj]] CD block in Jalpaiguri district on the east, [[Matigara (community development block)|Matigara]] and [[Naxalbari (community development block)|Naxalbari]] CD blocks on the south and [[Mirik (community development block)|Mirik]] CD block on the west.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India| work= Map of Darjeeling district on the fifth page| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/westbengal/tehsil/jalpaiguri.html | title = Tehsil map of Jalpaiguri| publisher = Maps of India|access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

The Kurseong CD block has an area of 372.30 km2. It has 1 [[Panchayat Samiti (Block)|panchayat samity]], 14 [[gram panchayat]]s, 123 gram sansads (village councils), 71 [[mouza]]s, 65 inhabited villages and 1 [[census town]]. [[Kurseong#Police station|Kurseong]] police station serves this block.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling |work = Tables 2.1, 2.2 |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=census2001>{{cite web| url = http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_1.htm| title = Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal , Table 4| publisher = Census Commissioner of India| work = Census of India 2001, Darjeeling district (01)| access-date = 12 February 2020| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040244/http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_1.htm| archive-date = 19 July 2011| df = dmy-all}}</ref> Headquarters of this CD block is at [[Kurseong]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf |title = District Census Handbook: Darjiling | work= Map of District Darjiling with CD block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page) |publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011 | access-date = 12 February 2020 }}</ref>

[[Gram panchayat]]s in Kurseong CD block are: Chimney-Deorali, [[Gayabari|Gayabari I]], Gayabari II, Gayabari III, Mahanadi, Pandu, Seetong I, Seetong II, Seetong III, Shivakhola, St. Marry’s I, St. Marry’s II, St. Marry’s III and [[Sukna, Darjeeling|Sukna]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://darjeeling.gov.in/misc/District-Detail.pdf | title = Egiye Bangla Darjeeling | work= Miscellaneous - District Detail| publisher = District administration |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics==
===Population===
According to the [[2011 Census of India]], the Kurseong CD block had a total population of 94,347, of which 79,903 were rural and 14,444 were urban. There were 47,030 (50%) males and 47,317 (50%) females. There were 8,528 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes]] numbered 8,271 (8.77%) and the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]] numbered 29,232 (30.98%).<ref name=census2011>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = CD block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

[[Census town]] in the Kurseong CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): [[Cart Road]] (14,444).<ref name=census2011/>

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in the Kurseong CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): [[Ambootia|Ambootia Tea Garden]] (4,811), [[Longview Tea Garden]] (5,301) and [[Simulbari Tea Garden]] (4,160).<ref name=census2011/>

Other villages in the Kurseong CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): [[Gayabari]] (407), Mahanadi (1,420), [[Sittong|Sittong Khas Mahal]] (3,098), Shibkhola (146), St. Mary’s (1,565), [[Sukna, Darjeeling|Sukna]] (1,011), [[Mangpu|Mangpu Cinchona Plantation]] (1,109), [[Tindharia]] (1,015), Singel Tea Garden (2,590), Garidhora (M.Bari) Tea Garden (2,877), [[Makaibari Tea Estate|Makaibari Tea Garden]] (1,289), [[Rohini Tea Garden]] (2,752), [[Giddapahar]] (2,768) and [[Monteviot Tea Garden]] (743).<ref name=census2011/>

===Literacy===
According to the 2011 census the total number of literate persons in the Kurseong CD block was 69,646 (81.15% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 37,895 (88.56% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 31,751 (73.78% of the female population over 6 years). The [[Literacy#Gender disparities|gender disparity]] (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 14.78%.<ref name=census2011/>

See also – [[List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate]]

{{Literacy in CD blocks of Darjeeling district (2011) |collapsible=y}}

===Language and religion===
According to the ''District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, 2011 census,'' as of 2001, 46.0% of the population of the Darjeeling district had [[Nepali language|Nepali/ Gorkhali]] as their mother-tongue followed by [[Bengali language|Bengali]] with 24.0%, [[Hindi]] with 10.4%, [[Sadri language|Sadan/ Sadri]] (3.1%), [[Kurukh language|Kurukh/ Oraon]] (2.1%), [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] (1.1%), [[Santali language|Santali]] (1.0%), [[Urdu]] (0.9%), [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]] (0.9%), [[Rangpuri language|Rajbanshi]] (0.6%), [[Mundari language|Munda]] (0.4%), [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]] (0.4%), [[Sherpa language|Bhotia]] (0.3%), [[Marwari language|Marwari]] (0.3%), [[Maithili language|Maithili]] (0.3%) and others (7.6%). The proportion of those who have Nepali/ Gorkhali as their mother-tongue has declined from 59.1% in 1961 to 46.1% in 2001, while that of Bengali has risen from 18.4% in 1961 to 24.0% in 2001 and that of Hindi has risen from 7.7% in 1961 to 10.4% in 2001.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf |title = District Census Handbook Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XXA , 2011 census|work = page 52: Mother tongue| publisher= Directorate of Census Operations West Bengal | access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

The West Bengal Official Language Act 1961 declared that Bengali and Nepali were to be used for official purposes in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in Darjeeling district.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wbja.nic.in/wbja_adm/files/The%20Bengal%20Official%20Language%20Act,%201961_1.pdf | title = The West Bengal Official Language Act 1961| publisher = WBJA |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

{{bar box
|title=Religion in Kurseong CD block
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hindu]]|Orange|65.83}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhist]]|Yellow|23.76}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians|Christian]]|Blue|7.54}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]|Green|0.65}}
{{bar percent|Others|Maroon|2.22}}
}}
In the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 62,111 and formed 65.83% of the population in the Kurseong CD block. Buddhists numbered 22,420 and formed 23.76% of the population. Christians numbered 7,110 and formed 7.54% of the population. Muslims numbered 610 and formed 0.65% of the population. Others numbered 2,096 and formed 2.22% of the population.<ref name=censusreligion2011>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html |title = C1 Population by Religious Community | work= West Bengal |publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

==Rural Poverty==
According to the Rural Household Survey in 2005, 24.40% of the total number of families were [[Below Poverty Line|BPL]] families in the Darjeeling district.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://220.225.90.38/Summary/WestBengal.htm| title =West Bengal Summary | work= Rural Household Survey 2005| publisher = Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal |access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref> According to a World Bank report, as of 2012, 4-9% of the population in Darjeeling, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts were below poverty level, the lowest among the districts of West Bengal, which had an average 20% of the population below poverty line.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/315791504252302097/pdf/119344-BRI-P157572-West-Bengal-Poverty.pdf| title = West Bengal: Poverty, Growth and Inequality| publisher = World Bank Group|access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

==Economy==
===Livelihood===
{{Pie chart
|caption= '''Livelihood in Kurseong CD block'''
|value1 = 10.75
|label1 = Cultivators
|value2 = 4.96
|label2 = Agricultural labourers
|value3 = 2.68
|label3 = Household industries
|value4 = 81.61
|label4 = Other Workers}}

In the Kurseong CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 3,669 and formed 10.75%, agricultural labourers numbered 1,693 and formed 4.96%, household industry workers numbered 913 and formed 2.68% and other workers numbered 7,843 and formed 81.61%.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf|title = District Census Handbook Darjiling, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A |work = Table 33: Distribution of Workers by Sex in Four Categories of Economic Activity in Sub-district 2011 | publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal| access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>Total workers numbered 34,118 and formed 36.16% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 60,229 and formed 63.84% of the population.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf |title = District Census Handbook Darjiling, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A |work = Table 30: Number and percentage of Main workers, Marginal workers and Non workers by Sex, in Sub-districts, 2011 | publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal| access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

Note: In the census records a person is considered a cultivator, if the person is engaged in cultivation/ supervision of land owned by self/government/institution. When a person who works on another person's land for wages in cash or kind or share, is regarded as an agricultural labourer. Household industry is defined as an industry conducted by one or more members of the family within the household or village, and one that does not qualify for registration as a factory under the [[Factories Act,1948, India|Factories Act]]. Other workers are persons engaged in some economic activity other than cultivators, agricultural labourers and household workers. It includes factory, mining, plantation, transport and office workers, those engaged in business and commerce, teachers, entertainment artistes and so on.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf |title = District Census Handbook Darjiling, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A |work = Census Concepts and Definitions, Page 31 | publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal| access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

===Infrastructure===
There are 65 inhabited villages in the Kurseong CD block, as per the ''District Census Handbook'', Darjiling, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 100% villages have drinking water supply. 15 villages (23.08%) have post offices. 59 villages (90.77%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 32 villages (49.23%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 9 villages (13.85%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 2 villages (3.08%) have agricultural credit societies and 4 villages (6.15%) have banks.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjiling, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A | work = Page 85, Table 36: Distribution of villages according to availability of different amenities, 2011 | publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. | access-date = 13 February 2020}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
In 2012-13, there were 57 [[Public distribution system|fair price shops]] in Kurseong CD block.<ref name=handbook2013>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling | work = Table No. 16.1, 18.1, 20.1, 21.2, 4.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 – arranged as per use | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 12 February 2020 }}</ref>

In 2013–14, Kurseong CD block produced 56 tonnes of [[Rice#Ecotypes and cultivars|Aman paddy]], the main winter crop, from 26 hectares, 4 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 3 hectares, 3 tonnes of wheat from 3 hectares, 2,055 tonnes of maize from 806 hectares and 6,325 tonnes of potatoes from 382 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds.<ref name=handbook2013/>

===Tea gardens===
[[Darjeeling tea]] “received the iconic status due to its significant aroma, taste and colour… the first Indian product to be marked with the [[Geographical indication|Geographical Indication]] (GI) tag in 2003… As per the definition, “Darjeeling Tea” can only refer to tea that has been cultivated, grown, produced, manufactured and processed in tea gardens in few specific hilly areas of the district.” Apart from the hill areas, tea is also grown in the plain areas of the terai and dooars, but such gardens are not covered under the GI tag. <ref name=tea>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjiling, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A | work = Page 26: Tea industry of Darjeeling district | publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. | access-date = 13 February 2020}}</ref>

As of 2009-10, there were 87 tea gardens covered under the GI tag, employing 51,091 persons. Total land under cultivation was 17,828.38 hectares and total production was 7.36 million kg. A much larger population is indirectly dependent on the tea industry in the district. The average annual production including those from the plain areas, exceeds 10 million kg.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling | work = Table No. 5.3 (f): Area, production and employment in the tea industry | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 12 February 2020 }}</ref><ref name=tea/>

As of 2013, Darjeeling subdivision had 46 tea estates, Kalimpong subdivision had 29 tea estates and Kurseong subdivision had 6 tea gardens. This added up to 81 tea estates in the hill areas. Bannackburn Tea Estate and Lingia Tea Estate in Darjeeling were the first to come up in 1835. Siliguri subdivision in the terai region had 45 tea estates.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wblc.gov.in/download/Synopsis-of-Tea-Garden-Survey-Final-Report.pdf | title = Synopsis on Survey of Tea Gardens| publisher = Regional Labour Offices under jurisdiction of Joint Labour Commissioner, North Bengal Zone |access-date = 5 March 2020}}</ref>

===Banking===
In 2012-13, Kurseong CD block had offices of 1 commercial bank and 3 [[Regional Rural Bank|gramin banks]].<ref name=handbook2013/>

==Transport==
{{Darjeeling Himalayan Railway|collapse=yes}}
Kurseong CD block has 3 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway station is 2 km from the block headquarters.<ref name=handbook2013/>

[[National Highway 110 (India)|National Highway 110]] /Hill Cart Road passes through Kurseong CD block.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/E_574_2012_016.pdf|title=New Numbering of National Highways notification - Government of India|website=[[The Gazette of India]]|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
In 2012-13, Kurseong CD block had 164 primary schools with 8,121 students, 3 middle schools with 721 students, 13 high schools with 5,282 students and 4 higher secondary schools with 2,263 students. Kurseong CD block had 2 technical/ professional institutions with 268 students and 306 institutions for special and non-formal education with 8,880 students. Kurseong municipal area (outside the CD block) had 1 general degree college with 2,034 students and 2 technical/ professional institutions with 598 students.<ref name=handbook2013/>

See also – [[Education in India]]

According to the 2011 census, in Kurseong CD block, among the 65 inhabited villages, 6 villages did not have a school, 34 villages had two or more primary schools, 24 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 13 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf| title = District Census Handbook, Darjiling, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A | work = Page 394, Appendix I A: Villages by number of Primary Schools and Appendix I B: Villages by Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools | publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. | access-date = 12 February 2020}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
In 2013, Kurseong CD block had 1 rural hospital and 3 primary health centres with total 68 beds and 4 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 20 family welfare subcentres.<ref name=handbook2013/>

Dowhill Central Hospital, with 40 beds, is located at Dow Hill and Latpanchar Chincona Plantation Hospital, with 12 beds, is located at Latpanchar,<ref name=medical>{{cite web | url = https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/Hospitals.pdf | title = Health & Family Welfare Department | work= Health Statistics - Hospitals | publisher = Government of West Bengal |access-date = 3 March 2020 }}</ref>

Sukna Rural Hospital, with 30 beds at Sukna, is the major government medical facility in the Kurseong CD block. There are [[Primary Health Centre (India)|primary health centres]] at Bagora (with 10 beds), Sittang (PO Shelpu) (with 4 beds) and [[Gayabari]] (with 4 beds).<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf | title = Health & Family Welfare Department | work= Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals | publisher = Government of West Bengal|access-date = 28 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/PHC.pdf | title = Health & Family Welfare Department | work= Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres | publisher = Government of West Bengal |access-date = 28 February 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==External links==
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Kurseong}}

{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}
{{Darjeeling}}

[[Category:Community development blocks in Darjeeling district]]

Kurseong (community development block) - Revision history

JungPapst1287: adjusted section and cleaned formatting after review

->Ira Leviton: Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss.