Its administrative centre was located at the town of Chyhyryn.

The raion was abolished on 18 July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Cherkasy Oblast to four.

[1][2] The last estimate of the raion population was 25,410 (2020 est.

)[3] At the time of disestablishment, the raion consisted of two hromadas, Chyhyryn urban hromada with the administration in Chyhyryn and Medvedivka rural hromada with the administration in the selo of Medvedivka.

[4] During the Ukrainian War of Independence the region was proclaimed the "Kholodny Yar Republic" (led by local Vasyl Chuchupak[5]) which strived for Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union.