The District originally consisted of that part of the Province of Quebec west of "a north and south line, intersecting the extreme projection of Long Point into the lake Erie,"[1] being the territory described as: ... comprehend[ing] all the residue of our said province in the western and inland parts thereof, of the entire breadth thereof, from the southerly to the northerly border of the same...[1][a] As Detroit was still occupied British territory in 1792, it formed part of the District at the time.

It was described as consisting of "...the Counties of Essex and Kent together with so much of this Province as is not included within any other district thereof..."[3] The counties were described as consisting of the following: The townships of The townships of In 1847, legislation was initiated to create a new Kent District; however, facilities at the designated district town of Chatham needed to be built.

At the beginning of 1850, the District was abolished, being replaced by the United Counties of Essex and Kent for municipal purposes.

[8] However, Kent and Lambton were united for the purpose of electing a member to the Parliament of the Province of Canada.

[9] The former District's townships were accordingly distributed as follows: Western District Grammar School, founded 1807, is now occupied by General Brock Public School in Windsor, Ontario.