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

Its administrative seat and only town is Strzyżów, which lies 24 kilometres (15 mi) south-west of the regional capital Rzeszów.

There are also two complexes of fortifications from the time of World War II, one in Stępina and the other in Strzyżów.

As regards the natural geography of the region, the valley of the Wisłok and its tributaries are interspersed with the low, sparsely wooded hills of the Dynowsko-Strzyżowskie Plateau.

The region also includes the Czarnorzecko-Strzyżowski Landscape Park and the Sędziszowsko-Strzyżowska and Hyżyńsko-Gwoźnicka protected areas.