The Sukhona, the Yug, and the Northern Dvina split the district into three roughly equal areas.

Some areas in the north of the district are in the basin of the Ustya River, a tributary of the Vaga.

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate.

The latter was abolished in 1796, and Veliky Ustyug became the seat of Velikoustyugsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate.

In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate with the administrative center located in Veliky Ustyug.

In July 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to Northern Krai.

An unpaved road, originating from Kuzino (which is connected with Veliky Ustyug by a ferry crossing) runs to Luza and continues to Lalsk and further to the Komi Republic.

The district contains one object classified as cultural and historical heritage by the Russian Federal law, and additionally forty-one objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.

The only object protected at the federal level is the archaeological monument "Palemsky Gorodok".

Troitse-Gledensky Monastery in the village of Morozovitsa, close to the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug, is located in the district.

Since the 1990s, Veliky Ustyug has been marketed as the residence of Ded Moroz, a fictional character similar to Santa Claus.

The residence, which is a major tourist attraction, is actually located outside of the town, on the territory of Velikoustyugsky District.