The district is endowed with economic resources viz. agricultural land growing of cereals, pulses, fruits, off season vegetables etc., enriched forest products and perennial rivers and streams for generating powers.
The irrigation projects have also been set up for ample supply of water to the field.
The apple cultivation is carried out throughout the district to boost the economy of the farmers.
The district is well connected with road transport and narrow gauge railway lines.
The main agricultural products are wheat, paddy, barley, maize, peas, potato and off season vegetables besides the production of apples, temperate fruits, sub- tropical fruits and nuts and dry fruits.
The district is also endowed with dense forests and major and minor forest products.
‘Pahari’ is the local dialect of the people of this district with slight variations in dialect beyond 5-10 kms. of an area.
The staple food of the people is wheat, maize, and rice. They have three meals a day. The Morning meal is locally called ‘Nalwari’ lunch is called ‘Dopari’ or ‘Chaili’ whereas dinner or super is called ‘bialli’.
The houses are constructed by using raw materials like soils, rocky stones, local wood, stone coated with cement, and tin houses are constructed of two or three-storeyed.
Economically well to do households have started to build the houses by using cement, corrugated sheets, and bricks.
Special dishes or feast menus differ according to caste, class, status, and economic conditions of the households.
They celebrate various social and religious fair and festivals.
In general, the social and cultural life of the people has been quite pleasant.
The concentration of fairs is heavier in the district like other districts in the state.
Most of the fairs held in the district are associated with important deities and religious festivals.
Contribution of the district
The district had produced many legendaries like stage artists, actors, and freedom-fighters.
Late Shri Padam Dev, Satya Dev Bushehri, Hari Ram, Nand Lal and Gian Chand Tutu were the active members of Praja Mandal who fought against the crusade of erstwhile Rajas of the princely states.
Gaiety Theatre an Amateur Dramatic Club has the distinction of staging and producing dignatories like Sh. Kundan Lal Sehgal, Balraj Sahni, Prem Chopra, and Anupam Kher and Manohar Singh.
An American missionary Samuel Stokes who settled at Kotgarh and later married to local belle of the area had first brought the apple seed from America and had the distinction of introducing the apple cultivation in the region.
Today, the entire district of Shimla is famous not only in the state but in the country also for the apple cultivation and producing of varieties apple.
The district capital Shimla was the summer capital of Govt. of India prior to independence.
It remained the capital of Punjab till it shifted to Chandigarh.
Shimla is now the state capital of Himachal Pradesh and is renowned for the world’s tourist resort.
It has witnessed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and famous Shimla Agreement between Z.A. Bhutto, then Pak Premier, and Indira Gandhi then Prime Minister of India in 1972.
River Satluj passes through the district.
Tourism is the fast-growing industries in the state.