The territory approximately corresponds with the present-day powiats of Lipno, Rypin, and half of Golub-Dobrzyń within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, although it encompasses parts of other counties as well.

During the Polish–Teutonic War of 1326–1332, the forces of the Order's State occupied Dobrzyń Land, which however was relinquished to the Kingdom of Poland in the 1343 Treaty of Kalisz.

Following the joint German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in September 1939, it was occupied by Nazi Germany.

During the occupation, the Polish population was subjected to various crimes, such as mass arrests, imprisonment, slave labor, kidnapping of children, deportations to Nazi concentration camps and extermination, incl.

There are eight towns in the region: Bobrowniki, Golub-Dobrzyń, Górzno, Kikół, Lipno, Skępe, Rypin and the historic capital Dobrzyń nad Wisłą.

Therefore, it is considered as the transitory subregion between three neighbouring regions of Kuyavia, Mazovia and Chełmno Land, with which it had close historical ties at various times.

In Szafarnia, there is a historic manor house, place of stay of Fryderyk Chopin during his 1824 and 1825 summer vacations, which now hosts a museum dedicated to the composer.