It was an ancient frontier city, on the west bank of the Ping River in Ban Tha Phra That, Tambon Ko Taphao.

King Maha Thammaracha of Ayutthaya moved the center of Mueang Tak to its present site in Tambon Pa Mamuang at the end of the 16th century.

The important water resources of the district are the Ping and Wang rivers.

[1] The district is divided into seven sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 67 villages (mubans).

There are two townships (thesaban tambon): Ban Tak and Thung Kra Cho.