The area of the governorate is currently split between Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kirov, and Kostroma Oblasts, and the Komi Republic.

The Vologda Governorate covered a total area of 402,112 square kilometres (155,256 sq mi), and had a population of 1,341,785 according to the 1897 Russian Empire census.

Historically the region belonged to what is known as the Great Perm later being incorporated into the Novgorod Republic after the disintegration of the Kievan Rus.

Among the first monks who permanently established Christianity in the region was Saint Stephen of Perm, born in the city of Ustyug sometime in 1340/45.

On July 24, 1918, the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic established Northern Dvina Governorate.

Thus, in 1928 Vologda Governorate consisted of five uyezds: Kadnikovsky, Kargopolsky, Totemsky, Velsky, and Vologodsky.