[3] The whole area in the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Daugava, known in Russia as the Western Dvina.

The Westerd Dvina itself crosses the district from the northwest to the southeast, and a stretch of it makes the border to Pskov Oblast.

[10] The Western Dvina was one of the most important Eastern European waterways, and the area of the district was populated since prehistory, as indicated by archaeological evidence.

The northern part of the contemporary Zapadnodvinsky District was included into Toropetsky Uyezd of Pskov Governorate.

[13] On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Oktyabrsky District was established, with the administrative center in the selo of Staraya Toropa.

Pskov Governorate was abolished as well, and the district became a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast.

On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast.

On August 1, 1927 Ilyinsky District with the administrative center located in the selo of Ilyino was established as well.

[2] The main agricultural specialization of the district is cattle breeding with meat and milk production.

[2] The railway which connects Moscow and Riga via Rzhev, crosses the district from east to west.

The M9 highway connecting Moscow with Riga also crosses the district, passing just north of Zapadnaya Dvina.