Both districts fall under the jurisdiction of the Penang Island City Council.

In 1786, the British East India Company had gained control of Penang Island, establishing the city of George Town at the island's northeastern tip.

In the following decades, the entirety of the island was governed directly from George Town.

Both districts first appeared in official maps dating back to the 1890s.

[2] The Northeast District is further divided into 15 subdivisions, officially known as mukims.