The district boundary was originally drawn for court sessional purposes,[2] before the existence of elected local government.

In 1879 it became a district municipality, to provide local government to the residents who live outside incorporated towns.

[5] The current warden of the Municipality is Allen Webber, and the current deputy warden is Floyd Shatford[6] *Following the 2021 Nova Scotia general election, District 3 councillor Danielle Barkhouse was elected as MLA to the riding of Chester-St. Margaret's.

The Municipality identifies five sectors: arts, culture & recreation; business services; construction; green industries; and niche manufacturing.

[25] The Municipality has a high concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation workers with artist-in-residents programs, galleries, a theatre, golf courses, museums, marinas, and the first and only Nordic spa in Nova Scotia.