The district of Latur is an important district of the state of Maharashtra. The city of Latur is the 16th largest city of the state when compared to the land that it occupies. The district also has its main administrative centre in the city of Latur itself. The district and the nearby regions were under the rule of the Rashtrakuta rulers. The district was also ruled by the rulers of the Sakas, The Chalukyas and the Mughals. The district was a part of the princely state of Hyderabad under the rule of the British crown in India. The district of Latur covers a land area of 7159 sq km with a population of 24.5 lacs individual. The district has a population density of about 343 people per sq km. The district has developed itself as a prime base for education in Maharashtra over the years. The common languages spoken by the people of the district include Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu and Telugu.