The administrative seat and the main town was Frankfurt (Oder).

The district was established, with the other 13, on 25 July 1952, substituting the old German states.

After 3 October 1990 it was disestablished due to the German reunification, becoming again part of the state of Brandenburg.

The Bezirk Frankfurt bordered with East Berlin and the Bezirke of Neubrandenburg, Potsdam and Cottbus.

The Bezirk was divided into 12 Kreise: 3 urban districts (Stadtkreise) and 9 rural districts (Landkreise):