The district was created before the 1966 election by the merger of Cranbrook and Fernie ridings, and despite its long period under the "Kootenay" moniker, never extended to cover more than a fraction of the whole "Kootenay" region.

Post-2001, broadly similar territory was included under the successive names East Kootenay, Kootenay East and Kootenay-Rockies.

The riding adopted its current name and had minor boundary changes from the 2024 election, which implemented the results of the 2021 redistribution.

It is located in southeastern British Columbia and is bordered by Alberta to the east and Montana, United States to the south.

Communities in the electoral district consist of Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood, and Elkford.