Bilaspur district is a district of the Chhattisgarh state of India. Bilaspur city is the headquarters of the district. As of 2011^[update], it is the second most populous district of Chhattisgarh (out of 27), after Raipur.

The name of the district derived from the city of Bilaspur, the administrative headquarter of the district. The name "Bilaspur" originated from Bilasa Devi, a fisherwoman who founded this city, according to a legend.

Bilaspur district is situated between 21º47' and 23º8' north latitudes and 81º14' and 83º15' east longitudes. The district is bounded by Gaurella-Pendra-Marwahi district on the north, Anuppur District and Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh state on the west, Kabirdham on the southwest, Durg and Raipur on the south and Korba and Janjgir-Champa on the east. The area of the district is 6377 km². Bilaspur is officially the judicial and cultural capital of Chhattisgarh and also boosts various cultural and social events. The district is also an educational and medical hub of Chhattisgarh due to several hospitals, e.g. Apollo Hospital. Education at the primary and higher level has been considerably improved in the past decade due to the opening of several international standard schools ranging from D.A.V. Public School, Delhi Public School, San Francis H/S School, St. Xavier's H/S School, Maharishi Vidya Mandir and The Jain International School. The city has also been witnessed infrastructural growth for the past few years due to the several initiatives taken by the state government to improve the basic infrastructure of the city. Today, the city has two developed shopping malls (Rama Magneto Mall and 36 City Mall) which attract a large number of peoples, especially the youth from all over the state.

Bilaspur was established by the Bilas Deo, Maharaja of Bandhavgarh. The area which comprises present-day Bilaspur District was under the control of the Bhonsla Rajas of Nagpur until 1818 and was governed by a Maratha Subah (district officer). In 1818, the British started administering the area on behalf of the Raghuji III, who was minor. The area was administered by a commissioner. In 1853, after the death of Raghuji III, British annexed the Nagpur Kingdom to British India as Nagpur Province, and in 1861 when the new Central Provinces was born, Bilaspur was organized into a separate district. In October 1903, a new province ‘The Central Provinces and Berar’ was constituted and Bilaspur District became a part of the Chhattisgarh Division of the province. In October 1905, on transfer of Sambalpur District to Bengal Province, Chandrapur-Padampur and Malkhurda estates were transferred to Bilaspur District. In 1906, when the Drug district (presently Durg District) was formed, a part of the Mungeli Tahsil was transferred to the new district. Also, another part of the district was transferred to the Raipur District. On 25 May 1998, the original Bilaspur District was split into 3 smaller districts, present Bilaspur, Korba and Janjgir-Champa.

Bilaspur Division consists of 11 tehsils.

Bilaspur district is composed of 11 tehsils, consisting of 1 Municipal corporation, 3 Nagar Palika Parishads, 7 Nagar panchayats and 4 blocks

The total number of villages in the district is 708 consisting of 483 Gram Panchayats.

The headquarters of the district is Bilaspur. It is the second largest city in the state and the seat of the High Court of Chhattisgarh. It is called the Nyaydhani (judicial capital) of Chhattisgarh. Bilaspur has the famous Kanan Pendari Zoo Park. Arpa is a river passing through the district, it very shallow in depth but does creates havoc during rains.