Historically, the district (county) became known as border checkpoint between the Austria-Hungary Empire and the Russian Empire. As a county (powiat) it was established in 1866 as part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. After World War I, the area became part of the Second Polish Republic within the Tarnopol Voivodeship. During the invasion of Soviet forces at the beginning of World War II, the district was established by the Soviet administration.