The district of Petaling was established on 1 February 1974, the same day Kuala Lumpur was declared a Federal Territory.

This district is located in the middle of the Klang Valley adjacent to the capital and thus has experienced tremendous urbanisation.

[citation needed] The official 2010 census recorded the population of Petaling as 1,660,869 people, excluding foreigners.

It also exercises jurisdiction over some parts of the south of Klang District, Bukit Raja, Setia Alam, Subang and Sungai Buloh area.

List of Petaling district representatives in the State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri)