It was founded as a fortress in the end of the 13th century and first mentioned in 1342. In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great, it was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
Saint Petersburg Governorate). Ostrov is specifically mentioned as one of the towns making the 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.
Catherine the Great incorporated it as a town in 1777. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds and governorates were abolished and Ostrovsky District, with the
administrative center in Ostrov, was established as a part of
Pskov Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast. It included parts of former
Ostrovsky,
Opochetsky, and
Pskovsky Uyezds. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. Between March 22, 1935 and September 19, 1940, Ostrovsky District was a part of the restored Pskov Okrug of Leningrad Oblast, one of the okrugs abutting the state boundaries of the
Soviet Union. Between July 6, 1941 and July 21, 1944, Ostrov was occupied by
German troops. An underground resistance group was active in Ostrov during the war. On August 23, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Pskov Oblast. ==Administrative and municipal status==