It is elongated from north to south and divided by the Sukhona roughly into two equal parts.

The major part of the district belongs to the basin of the Sukhona and two of its tributaries: the Uftyuga (left) and the Gorodishna (right).

The area was populated by Finnic peoples and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic (Totma) and Vladimir-Suzdal Principality (Veliky Ustyug).

The Novgorod merchants used the Sukhona River as one of the main waterways leading to the White Sea and the Pechora.

[10] In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate.

In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate, and in 1924 the uyezds were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions).

Nyuksensky District was established on June 10, 1924 and included areas of former Solvychegodsky and Velikoustyugsky Uyezds.

Another paved road branches off in Nyuksenitsa northwest to Tarnogsky Gorodok and further to Oktyabrsky in Arkhangelsk Oblast.

[11] The district contains 130 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.