Its traditional capital is Sieradz, while other bigger cities are Piotrków Trybunalski (another historically important locality), Radomsko, Tomaszów Mazowiecki (partly in Łęczyca Land), Bełchatów, Zduńska Wola, and Pabianice (a suburb of Łódź).

In the High Middle Ages, the main center of the area was Sieradz, and among other oldest medieval towns were Lutomiersk, Piotrków, Przedbórz, Radomsko, Rozprza, Spycimierz, Sulejów, Szadek, Uniejów, Wolbórz.

On 1 September 1939, when Nazi Germany launched its invasion of Poland, nearby Wieluń was bombed and the area between the German border and the Warta River was occupied.

[7] Prisoners were given very low food rations, and meals were even prepared from rotten vegetables, spoiled fish and dead dogs.

[8] After the war, Polish historian Antoni Galiński was able to identify 968 people who died or were shot in the prison and its subcamps in 1940–1945, however the overall number of deaths is certainly higher.