The District is located between latitudes north 24º41′ and 24º68′ and between longitudes east 92º34′ and 92º57‘. District was created on 01/10/1989, Hailakandi is one of the aspirational districts in the barak valley region of Assam. Several myths are associated with the name ‘Hailakandi’. According to some historians the district got its name from the ‘Kuki’ word ‘halam’ means a small state and the word ‘Kundia’ meaning a plot of land for temporary ploughing. Another myth associated with the name of the district is sali paddy is grown abundantly as a staple food crop and from ‘Sailkandi’ the district came to be known as Hailakandi.

Hailakandi consists of five developmental blocks: Algapur, Hailakandi, Lala, Katlicherra& South Hailakandi. The District consisting of four Revenue Circles namely: Algapur, Hailakandi, Lala & Katlicherra. The district has 62 Nos of Gaon Panchayat and 331 Nos of Revenue Villages, 02 Municipality Board and 2 Nos Town Committees. The Connectivity of the district consists of road NH-53 and NH-154 and Railway. Nearest Airport is Kumbhirgram airport which is 83 Km from the district headquarter. The prime geographical character that forms the topographical features of Hailakandi is the river Barak and its tributaries. The river spread rich alluvial plains across the length and breadth of three southern districts of Assam. There are two major rivers flowing through the district namely Katakhal & Dhaleswari. Also, there are two small rivers named Pola & Jita. There are two reserved forests in Hailakandi district, the Inner line Reserved Forest and Katakhal Reserved Forest. The southern part was also recommended as Dhaleswari Wildlife Sanctuary.