[4] Located east of the Rockies, the regional district is characterized by rolling hills with grain and cattle farms.

European-Canadian explorers penetrated the area during the 19th century by canoeing along the Peace River and establishing trading posts at Fort St. John and Hudson's Hope.

In 1883 the province gave the federal government control over 3,500,000 acres (14,200 km2) of land, anywhere north the Rocky Mountains, as part of a deal to extend a rail line to Vancouver.

[5] The region grew slowly as agricultural settlements spread westward to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and northward to the muskegs of the Liard.

In 1932 Pouce Coupe became the first community in the region to incorporate as a village, followed by Dawson Creek in 1936 after a rail line was extended there from Alberta.

Industrial development began with the provincially funded megaprojects which included the extension of transportation and utility infrastructure through the Rocky Mountains to Chetwynd and across the region and the construction of two hydroelectric dams at Hudson's Hope.

An oil and gas industry developed and helped Fort St. John's population increase from 3,619 people in 1961 to 13,891 in 1981 surpassing Dawson Creek as the largest city.

The last municipality in the region to incorporate was Tumbler Ridge which was built by the province in 1981 as an instant community to service two proposed coal mines.

[6] According to BC's Ecoregion Classification System most of the Regional District is located in the Boreal Plains Ecoprovince of the Polar Ecodomain.

These ecosections have many wetlands, ponds, and slow-moving streams the area is a major migratory corridor for water- and shorebirds.

Due to its population size relative to the other jurisdictions and the Board's weighted voting scheme, Fort St. John elects two directors and two alternates.

The board directors also form committees for wildlife, solid waste, rural budgets, and parks and recreation.

The directors are joined with members of the public on committees for agricultural advisory, libraries, fire protection, community sewer systems, and emergency management.

Peace River South is entirely with the Regional District and is represented by Mike Bernier in the Legislative Assembly.

Hence, from March to November, clocks in the regional district are synchronized with the rest of the province, which is on Pacific Daylight Time.