According to the 2011 census, it is the third-largest city of Madhya Pradesh and 37th-largest city in India. Jabalpur is 2nd largest metropolis of Central India after Raipur which is followed by Bhopal, Bilaspur, Indore and Durg-Bhilai.
Historically, a centre of the Kalachuri and Gond dynasties, the city developed a syncretic culture influenced by intermittent Mughal and Maratha rule. During the early nineteenth century, it was annexed by British India as Jubbulpore and incorporated as a cantonment town. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh, headquarters of the West Central Railway and Army headquarters of five states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand) are located in Jabalpur. The city is also home to the Gun Carriage Factory and Army Vehicle Factory.
