[3][4] It is home to Hampi, the former capital of the famous Vijayanagara Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and several historical places are located in the district.

After India's independence, during the organisation of Indian states in the Republic of India, with the formation Andhra Pradesh in 1953, the Vijayanagara region was part of Bellary district of the newly formed Mysore state.

Anand Singh, MLA from Vijayanagara, was appointed as the district's minister in charge for the state government.

Krishna Nayaka is the current MLA of Hoovina Hadagali; P. T. Parameshwar Naik, a former minister and MLA from Hoovina Hadagali and M. P. Prakash, former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The university was founded by the government of Karnataka during the premiership of S. Bangarappa with the aim to develop the Kannada language and to promote its literature and traditions.