In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great, the area was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate
Novgorod Governorate was split off, and in 1772,
Pskov Governorate (which between 1777 and 1796 existed as
Pskov Viceroyalty) was established. The area was a part of Pustorzhevsky Uyezd, which in 1777 was renamed
Novorzhevsky Uyezd of Pskov Viceroyalty. In 1796, when the viceroyalty was abolished, the uyezd was abolished as well; however, it was re-established in 1802. In the mid-18th century, Bezhanitsy, which was located on the road connecting
Porkhov and
Velikiye Luki, quickly developed as a center of
yam (state-sponsored transportation). On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Bezhanitsky District was established, with the administrative center in the
selo of Bezhanitsy. It included parts of former Novorzhevsky Uyezd. The governorates were abolished as well, and the district became a part of
Pskov Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935, the district was transferred to
Kalinin Oblast, and on February 5 of the same year, Bezhanitsky District became a part of
Velikiye Luki Okrug of Kalinin Oblast, one of the okrugs abutting the state boundaries of the
Soviet Union. On May 11, 1937, the district was transferred to
Opochka Okrug. On May 4, 1938, the district was directly subordinated to Kalinin Oblast. Between 1941 and 1944, Bezhanitsky District was occupied by
German troops. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established
Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and the district was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On August 28, 1958,
Krasny Luch was granted work settlement status, and on August 7, 1961, Bezhanitsy followed. On August 1, 1927,
Chikhachyovsky District was established as well, with the administrative center in the
selo of
Chikhachyovo. It included parts of former Novorzhevsky and
Porkhovsky Uyezds. The district was a part of Pskov Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On January 1, 1932, the district was abolished and split between Dedovichsky and Bezhanitsky Districts. Another district established on August 1, 1927 was
Kudeversky District with the administrative center in the
selo of
Kudever. It included parts of former Novorzhevsky Uyezd. The district was a part of Pskov Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On September 20, 1931, Kudeversky District was abolished and merged into Novorzhevsky District. On March 5, 1935, it was re-established as a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Kalinin Oblast; on May 11, 1937, the district was transferred to Opochka Okrug. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and Kudeversky District was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On January 14, 1958, Kudeversky District was abolished and split between Bezhanitsky, Novorzhevsky, Opochetsky, and
Pustoshkinsky Districts. On June 1, 1936,
Ashevsky District with the administrative center in the
selo of Chikhachyovo was established. It included parts of Bezhanitsky and Loknyansky Districts. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Kalinin Oblast. On May 11, 1937, the district was transferred to Opochka Okrug. On May 4, 1938, the district was directly subordinated to Kalinin Oblast. Between 1941 and 1944, Ashevsky District was occupied by
German troops. On August 23, 1944, it was included into newly established Pskov Oblast. On February 1, 1963, the district was abolished and merged into Bezhanitsky District. ==Economy==