Covering an area of 44,600 square kilometres (17,222 sq mi) and sub-divided into 22 taluks.

During the British rule in India, Vizagapatam emerged as a district.

Parts of the Vizagapatam District and the Ganjam District (excluding Ichchapuram, Palasa, Tekkali, Pathapatnam and Srikakulam) of Madras Presidency were transferred to Orissa Province along with portions of the Vizagapatam Hill Tracts Agency and Ganjam Hill Tracts Agency.

Present day it covers the areas of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam and part of Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur, Ganjam and Rayagada districts of Odisha.

Vizagapatam district was sub-divided into 22 taluks some of which were agencies.