Original: It was bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Delitzsch, the district-free city Leipzig, Muldentalkreis, Mittweida, the district Altenburger Land in Thuringia, and the districts Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis in Saxony-Anhalt.
Simplified: The district was formed in 1994 by joining the old districts of Leipzig, Borna and Geithain.