The area was settled in the prehistory, and, as the Western Dvina always has been an important waterway, there are multiple archaeological sites in the district.

In 1580, after the Livonian War, the area was transferred to Poland, where it was included into Vitebsk Voivodeship.

Subsequently Porechye developed as an important trading post since it was located at the intersection of roads connecting Saint Petersburg with Kiev and Moscow with Riga.

Later, it lost its trade important, since the Kasplya became more shallow, and the railway between Moscow and Riga went via Velikiye Luki, far from Porechye.

[12][13] On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Demidovsky District with the administrative center in Demidov was established.

[1] As an administrative division, it is, together with four rural localities, incorporated within Demidovsky District as Demidovskoye Urban Settlement.