The area was originally populated by
Balto-Finnic peoples;
Krivich Slavs arrived later. From the 9th century, the area gradually fell under control of the
Novgorod Republic, and by the 12th century it was a frontier area, with the
Principality of Rostov located immediately to the east and showing interest in the
Mologa lands. The region experienced an influx of settlers in the 13th century, when peasants were fleeing the
Mongols. It belonged to the Novgorod Republic, until in the 15th century, after the fall of Novgorod, it became a part of the
Grand Duchy of Moscow. The area was severely depopulated in the end of the 16th century and in the beginning of the 17th century, as a consequence of a series of epidemics followed by the
Time of Troubles. First villages in what now is Pestovsky District were mentioned in the 16th century. 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. In 1776, the area was transferred to
Novgorod Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and the area, then a part of
Ustyuzhensky Uyezd, was transferred to Novgorod Governorate. In June 1918, five uyezds of Novgorod Governorate, including Ustyuzhensky Uyezd, were split off to form
Cherepovets Governorate, with the administrative center in
Cherepovets. On August 1, 1927, Cherepovets Governorate was abolished, and its area became
Cherepovets Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast. Simultaneously, uyezds were abolished, and, effective October 1, 1927, Pestovsky District was established within Cherepovets Okrug, with the administrative center in the settlement of Pestovo. On September 19, 1927, Pestovo was granted
work settlement status. In 1930, a minor part of
Mikhaylovsky District of
Moscow Oblast was transferred to Pestovsky District. in the course of the
Nikita Khrushchev's abortive administrative reform. On January 12, 1965, this was reverted; at the same time Pestovo was granted town status. ==Economy==