Rivers in the north and in the center of the district drain to the Dnieper directly.

Minor areas in the south of the district belong to the drainage basins of the Desna and the Sozh, major left tributaries of the Dnieper.

[10][11] On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Glinkovsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Glinka was established on the territories which previously belonged to Yelninsky and Smolensky Uyezds.

On August 1, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast.

There are plans to build a cement plant and to develop timber industry.

[13] The main agricultural specialization of the district is cattle breeding with milk and meat production.

[13] The railway connecting Smolensk and Sukhinichi via Spas-Demensk crosses the district from northwest to southeast.