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

[2] In the Middle Ages, the area was located on the border between Lithuanian and Russian lands, and intermittently changed affiliation between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (later Poland) and a number of Russian principalities, including the Grand Duchy of Moscow, until in the 17th century it finally went to Moscow.

[11] On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and the area was included into Western Oblast and split between Belsky, Oktyabrsky, Ilyinsky, and Prechistensky Districts.

During World War II, in 1941—1943, the current area of the district was occupied by German troops.

On August 22, 1944, Belsky, Ilyinsky, and Oktyabrsky Districts were transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast.

In 1950, a number of villages were merged into the urban-type settlement of Zharkovsky, which became the administrative center of the district.

[16] The main agricultural specializations of the district are cattle breeding with meat and milk production, as well as potato and vegetable growing.

The district contains sixteen objects (one of them in Zharkovsky) classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.