The western part of the district lies in the basin of the Pola River and its tributaries, the biggest of which are the Polomet and the Yavon.

Minor areas in the east of the district belong to the drainage basin of the Msta River.

The fortress was located close to the boundary between the Novgorod Republic and the Grand Duchy of Moscow and it was besieged by Muscovite troops at least twice.

After the subsequent fall of Novgorod, Demon was transferred to the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

In the 17th century, Demon went into decline and a new settlement—known initially as Demyansky Pogost and later as Demyansk—was founded nearby.

Demyansky District, with the administrative center in the town Demyansk,[13] was established within Novgorod Okrug of Leningrad Oblast effective October 1, 1927.

[13] The district was the area of fierce battles, and, in 1942 in particular, some German troops were encircled but subsequently managed to break out.

On July 5, 1944, Demyansky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast,[13] where it remained ever since.

[3] A railway which connects Bologoye and Pskov via Staraya Russa crosses the district from east to west.