Its headstream, the Fulda, flows through the southern part of the district including the city of Kassel.

The area was first populated by the ancient Germanic tribe of Chatti, who later founded the state of Hesse.

Many characters and places from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm have originated in the area around Kassel.

Thus the tale of Sleeping Beauty locates at the Sababurg in Reinhardswald and that of Rapunzel on the Trendelburg.

Baunatal has large Volkswagen and Lohfelden factories and also has several industrial areas on the border with the city of Kassel.