It was proclaimed by Governor James Fergusson in 1868 and named for Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, who visited the state in 1867.

In 1916 the hundreds of Paringa and Murtho seceded from Loxton's north to form the new District Council of Paringa, and the hundreds of Allen, Kekwick and McGorrery seceded from the south to form the new District Council of Brown's Well.

When Loxton council re-amalgamated with Brown's Well and Waikerie in 1997, the remaining southern bulk of the county became part of the larger District Council of Loxton Waikerie.

The county is divided into eight hundreds: from west to east on the south bank of the Murray are the hundreds of Murtho, Paringa, Gordon, Bookpurnong and Pyap.

In the south of the county from east to west are the hundreds of Allen, Kekwick and McGorrery.