It was established as Ponoysky District (Понойский район) on August 1, 1927, when the All-Russian Central Executive Committee issued two Resolutions: "On the Establishment of Leningrad Oblast" and "On the Borders and Composition of the Okrugs of Leningrad Oblast".
[2] On June 1, 1936, the renaming of the district and the administrative center move were approved by the Resolution of the VTsIK.
[2] Iokanga, the administrative center of the district at the time, comprised de facto two separate inhabited localities, located within 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) from one another—Iokanga proper and Iokangskaya baza, with the district executive committee quarters being located in the latter.
[2] In 1936, Iokangskaya baza was renamed Gremikha, but Iokanga continued to be listed as the administrative center of Saamsky District until February 1938.
[2] Saamsky District was abolished on January 26, 1963 by the Decision of the Murmansk Oblast Executive Committee.