Originally, the area of the district was populated by Finnic peoples, eventually, the Slavs began arriving.

In 1617, according to the Treaty of Stolbovo, the west of the area was transferred to Sweden, and in the 1700s, during the Great Northern War, it was conquered back by Russia.

On May 15, 1919, the detachment under command of Stanislav Bulak-Balakhovich captured Gdov, and the whole uyezd thus came under control of the Yudenich's White Army troops.

[9] On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Gdovsky District was established, with the administrative center in the town of Gdov.

The governorates were abolished as well, and the district became a part of Luga Okrug of Leningrad Oblast.

[11] In February 1944, the Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive, a military operation in which the Soviet Army advanced to the east bank of the Narva and of Lake Peipus, took place here.

The areas adjacent to the Narva River were assigned to Estonia in 1920, following the Estonian War of Independence and the Treaty of Tartu, signed on February 2, 1920.

On November 24, 1944 this area was transferred to Leningrad Oblast and shared between Slantsevsky (south) and Kingiseppsky (north) Districts.

[11] On August 1, 1927 Osminsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Osmino was established as well.

[12] After the abortive administrative reform of the 1960s, its territory became split between Slantsevsky, Volosovsky, Luzhsky, and Kingiseppsky Districts.

In order to visit the zone, a permit issued by the local Federal Security Service department is required.

The main specialization of agriculture in the district is cattle breeding with meat and milk productions.

The district contains thirty-seven objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (four of them in the town of Slantsy).