Virudhunagar district was formed by the separation of Old Ramanathapuram district vide State Government Notification, G.O. Ms. 347 dated 8.3.1985.
Virudhunagar District was formerly called Karmavirer Kamarajar District. The district is situated in the southern portion of Tamil Nadu State. The Virudhunagar district is bounded on north by Madurai and Sivagangai district, south by Tirunelveli and Tuticorin district, east by Ramanathapuram, west by Kerala state and northwest by Theni district. The administrative headquarters of Virudhunagar district is located at Virudhunagar town. Virudhunagar district consists of 3 Revenue divisions, 9 Taluks, 39 Firkas and 600 Revenue Villages.
Virudhunagar district is leading in the country in the match industry, Fireworks and Printing, mostly concentrated in and around Sivakasi. Virudhunagar is the main market for oil, chicory, coffee seeds, dry chillies and pulses. There are two trade centres (Godowns) in the District one in Virudhunagar and another in Rajapalayam. Ginning factories, spinning mills, power loom and hand loom industries are also present in the district at Rajapalayam the second big weaving town in the state after Coimbatore. One of the cement plants of Madras Cements Ltd is located in RR Nagar near Viudhunagar another one located at Alankulam of Sivakasi Taluk.