Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis is part of the Darmstadt region; its main administrative seat is Bad Schwalbach.

Outposted sections of the local administration are located in Idstein and Rüdesheim am Rhein.

From 983 to 1803, the Rheingau area belonged to the Electorate of Mainz and was then merged into the new Duchy of Nassau.

After the 1866 Austro-Prussian war, Nassau was annexed by Prussia and formed the new province of Hesse-Nassau.

After the Second World War and the creation of Hesse in 1946, these two districts remained unchanged.