The name is a combination of two terms: stari which is Slavic for old and gard which is Pomeranian language stands for town, city, fortified settlement.

In this meaning, the term gard (also spelled as gôrd) is still being used in the only surviving dialect of the Pomeranian, Kashubian language.

The county came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998.

Its administrative seat and largest town is Starogard Gdański, which lies 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of the regional capital Gdańsk.

Starogard County is part of the area traditionally inhabited by the Kociewiacy ethnic group.