As of June 1, 2019, the district has an estimated population of 63,205 and a density of 65.2 persons per km2.
The Nanbu clan sided with the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei during the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration and were punished by the new Meiji government by loss of their northern territories.
In November 1869, large portions of Kita-gun (Shimokita and Kamikita) and Sannohe District became part of the newly created Tonami Domain (斗南藩, Tonami-han), a 30,000 koku holding created to resettle the dispossessed Matsudaira clan from Aizu-Wakamatsu.
In July 1871, with the abolition of the han system, Tonami Domain became Tonami Prefecture, and was merged into the newly created Aomori Prefecture in September 1871.
During the early Meiji period cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, the district was reorganized into two towns and 31 villages.