It was bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the district-free city Chemnitz, and the districts Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis, Annaberg, Aue-Schwarzenberg, Zwickauer Land and Chemnitzer Land.

The district dates back to the Amtshauptmannschaft Stollberg, which was established in 1910.

However two years later in another reform the district was recreated, only with a slightly different layout.

The district was located on the northwestern slope of the Ore Mountains.

The left half of the coat of arms show the symbol of the Counts of Schönberg - the county of Schönberg covered most of the area of the district.