Dombivili is a fully literate town in Maharashtra and second literate town in India. Dombivli is located 50 Kms away from the financial capital, Mumbai. It is a growing town and its vicinity to Mumbai and Thane and the availability of local train services from the place has given it the position of the suburb of Mumbai. Many of those employed in Bombay find their residence in Dombivli.

Origin of name of Dombivili
The name "Dombivli" is believed to have come from a tribal group who lived nearby, named the "dombas".

History of Dombivili
In 1075, King Harpal Dev had referred to Dombivli on the stone inscriptions, which was situated in Mahul village, near the Turbhe Port. From this it is evident that Dombivli existed approximately 800 years ago. The stone writings referring to its existence in the years 1396-97 still exist in Dombivli.

The Portuguese stationed themselves at several places when they came to Dombivli. The existence of Dombivli came to be known in the year 1730 during the Peshwa Rule. The stone inscriptions that existed in the year 1300 B.C. at "Agasan" have been preserved in the Museum even today.

Dombivli was surrounded by the ruins of the following villages. To its East was the Chole village, to its West is the Airey(Aayre) village, to the South is the Patharli village and to the North is the Thakurli village.

In the year 1880, the first person who settled down in KOPARGAON near "Dombivlit was late Shri-Narayan Atmaram Patkar. He had two ships, which he used to transport and trade in Rice and other commodities through the Kalyan Creek.

Geography of Dombivili
Dombivli, the town in Kalyan tahsil is located at a distance of twenty kilometers from Thane and six kilometers from Kalyan and is a railway station on the Central Railway. Dombivli came into being as the Gajabandhan Village and the "Old Dombivli", which forms the West side is embraced by the river Ulhas. The East flank has been the golden arm of the Municipal Corporation. . Dombivli is situated near a creek. It is approximately at a height of 15 feet above the Creek level. Dombivli is crowned over the villages of "Chole", "Airey", "Patharli"", and Thakurli. The land here is coarse and stony by nature. The climate is warm and dry and there was a scarcity of water.

Flora and Fauna of Dombivili
There was a thick growth of trees such as "Karwandi", "Pendhkadi", "Fur" and "Nivdung". Animals such as "Wolves", "Foxes", "Rabbits", etc. were found here in abundance.

Culture of Dombivili
Dombivli comprises a multi-ethnic population with Maharashtrians( in majority), Jains, Gujarathis, Kannadigas, Tamilians, Malayalees and Punjabis, with a marginal population of Khojas (The Aga-Khan sect). Dombivli is a middle class town with a majority population of Hindus. There are temples for all faiths, Jamatkhana for the Khoja Muslims, and also a few churches.

Dombivli`s citizens believe their city has a nuanced culture of its own. The unique culture of Dombivli is reflected in the `Navavarsha Swagat Yatra` that started in the town in late 1990s. The Yatra is organized on the first day of Hindu New Year. In it all the groups, societies, clubs, companies from & near Dombivli take part with their own `Chitrarathas` to welcome the New Year.

Most of the couples in Dombivli are professionals with a more "modern" lifestyle, often reflected in their one-child families and penchant for consumer goods. Consumerism is at its peak here and hence, these families are often referred to as DISCOs (Double Income Single Child Only). About 67-68% of families in the city are classified as DISCOs. Economy of Dombivili.

Dombivli is well known for rapid industrial growth with major dyes, paints, chemical, and heavy metal factories based in the industrial part of the town. Some of the well known ones are Gharda Chemicals, Vicco Labs, Lloyd Steel, and Deepak Fertilizers. The 1980s saw Dombivli growing into a crowded and saturated city due to industrial development under the plan. Dombivli`s approachability by road and rail, and its potential in land and manpower increased tremendously. The industries have been developed in two phases so far, and new plans have been proposed.

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has developed a big industrial complex around Dombivli.

Transportation of Dombivili
The town has three railway stations under its jurisdiction: Dombivli Railway Station, Thakurli Railway Station, and the Kopar Bridge Railway Station. Dombivli is served by all local trains terminating at stations beyond Thane, and it is a stop for all major fast local trains.

Education of Dombivili
Dombivli also has the honour of becoming the first fully literate city in Maharashtra and the second in India (a town in Kerala is first). Over a hundred schools offer primary and secondary education, and over a dozen are affiliated with the University of Mumbai. A couple of colleges also offer technical education and are affiliated with the Board of Technical Examination, Mumbai.

In Dombivili, over a hundred schools offer Primary and Secondary education and over a dozen are affiliated to the University of Mumbai. There are a numerous Big and Small Private Institutes offering Diplomas in Computer Applications and short-term courses. The town also contributes to the ever-demanding technical knowledge in the field of Information technology.

Dombivli is home to eight colleges. It boasts many high merit rank holders every year in the Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary (School) Certificate exams. There are top technological institutes like the IITs, BITS Pilani, VJTI, UDCT & top business schools such as IIMs, XLRI, S.P.Jain, Jamnalal Bajaj, etc.

Demographics of Dombivili
As per the 1991 census, the population of Dombivili had been 800,000 people.

Government of Dombivili
Dombivli Municipal Council was merged with that of neighboring Kalyan to form a new governing body, the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation.