The administrative seat and the main town was Potsdam.

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

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

In addition, it bordered with East Berlin and the Bezirke of Schwerin, Neubrandenburg, Frankfurt (Oder), Cottbus, Halle and Magdeburg.

The Bezirk was divided into 15 Kreise: 2 urban districts (Stadtkreise) and 15 rural districts (Landkreise):