 In 1901, town population was 6,198 under the Maratha Empire.Population rose to 25,529 in 1991, 37,861 in 2001,47,344 in 2011 and 1,25,068 in 2019.Historically the town has manufactured and dyed cotton cloth, and functioned as a center of trade in grain and cotton from eastern Bhopal, Bhilsa, Sagar and elsewhere, exporting salt, crude sugar and piece-goods, particularly brass and bell-metal vessels made at Chichli.