The Volga itself crosses the district from southwest to northeast, and the town of Staritsa is located on its banks.

Rivers in the southeast of the district drain into the Shosha, a major right tributary of the Volga.

In the 14th century, it belonged to Principality of Zubtsov, which was eventually merged back into Principlality of Tver.

[12] On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Staritsky District with the administrative center in the town of Staritsa was established.

[13][14] On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast.

[12][13] During World War II, in 1941—1942, a considerable part of the district, including Staritsa, was occupied by German troops.

One produces hydraulic devices for aviation industry, another one performs heat treatment of metal.

[9] The main agricultural specialization of the district is cattle breeding with meat and milk production.

[9] A railway connecting Torzhok and Rzhev crosses the district from northeast to southwest.

A paved road connecting Tver to Rzhev crosses the district and passes through Staritsa, where there is a bridge over the Volga.

The district contains 95 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance (37 of them in Staritsa) and additionally 346 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (121 of them in Staritsa).

In the village of Ryasnya, where in a nearby estate the vice-admiral Vladimir Kornilov was born, a memorial museum was opened.