In the medieval times, the area belonged to the
Novgorod Republic and was known as
Rzheva Pustaya. In the end of the 15th century, together with Novgorod, it was annexed by the
Grand Duchy of Moscow. 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). Rzheva Pustaya and Zavolochye are mentioned among towns the governorate consisted of. In 1727, separate
Novgorod Governorate was split off, and in 1772,
Pskov Governorate (which between 1777 and 1796 existed as
Pskov Viceroyalty) was established. In 1777,
Novorzhev was founded and became a town and the seat of
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. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Novorzhevsky District was established, with the administrative center in the town of Novorzhev. 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, Novorzhevsky 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 February 5, 1941, the okrug was abolished. Between July 1941 and February 1944, Novorzhevsky District was occupied by
German troops. On August 23, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Pskov Oblast. On August 1, 1927,
Vyborsky District was also established, with the administrative center in the village of
Vybor. It included parts of former
Ostrovsky Uyezd. The district was a part of Pskov Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On January 1, 1932, Vyborsky District was abolished and split between
Slavkovsky and Novorzhevsky 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, it was transferred to Opochka Okrug. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established
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. ==Economy==