[1] Beidi Commandery was created in 271 BC, when the Qin annexed the lands of the Yiqu people.
In late Western Han period, the commandery administered 19 counties: Maling (馬領), Zhilu (直路), Lingwu (靈武), Fuping (富平), Lingzhou (靈州), Xuyan (昫衍), Fangqu (方渠), Chudao (除道), Wujie (五街), Chungu (鶉孤), Guide (歸德), Huihuo (回獲), Luepandao (略畔道), Niyang (泥陽), Yuzhi (郁郅), Yiqudao (義渠道), Yiju (弋居), Dayi (大呓) and Lian (廉).
[2] The Eastern Han census in 140 AD, however, documented a population of only 18,637 (3,122 households), and the number of counties had reduced to 6.
[4] Due to attacks by the Qiang people, the commandery's administration was relocated to Zuopingyi (in modern Shaanxi) from 111 to 129.
[5] The Beidi Commandery of Cao Wei and Western Jin dynasties was located in modern Shaanxi.