In 1780, the Archangelgorod Governorate, with its center in Arkhangelsk, was abolished and transformed into the Vologda Viceroyalty.

The viceroyalty was subdivided into three oblasts: Vologda, Veliky Ustyug, and Arkhangelsk.

In 1920, the Kemsky Uyezd was transferred to the Karel Labour Commune, which later became the Karelian Socialist Soviet Republic.

In 1922, the major part of the Pechorsky District was moved to the newly established Komi-Zyryan Autonomous Oblast.

In 1928, the governorate consisted of five uyezds: Arkhangelsky, Mezensky, Onezhsky, Pechorsky, and Shenkursky.

[1] On 14 January 1929, by the order of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, three governorates (Arkhangelsk, Vologda, and Northern Dvina) and Komi-Zyryan Autonomous Oblast were merged into Northern Krai.