Totma was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1137. It was founded by
Novgorodians, who used the
Sukhona River as the main waterway leading to the north and eventually to the
White Sea. In the 13th century, salt production started around Totma, and the town, which was originally located downstream of the current place, was relocated. In 1539–1541, Totma was plundered by
Kazan Tatars, after which a fortress was built. In the 16th century, Totma was one of the most prosperous towns of the Russian North, due to its salt production and trade. In 1554, monk
Feodosy Sumorin founded the
Transfiguration Monastery. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Totma was visited by
Peter the Great three times, which was rather exceptional given the remote location of the town. In the 18th century, Totma was one of the main centers of the exploration of and the trade with
Alaska. In particular,
Ivan Kuskov, the first administrator of
Fort Ross, a Russian fortress in California, was a native of Totma. In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into
Archangelgorod Governorate. Totma was explicitly mentioned as one of the towns included in the governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into
Vologda Viceroyalty; simultaneously,
Totemsky Uyezd was established. The viceroyalty was abolished in 1796, and the part of it which included Totma became
Vologda Governorate. On July 15, 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into
Northern Krai, and the uyezds were abolished. Instead, Totemsky District with the administrative center in the town of Totma was established as a part of
Vologda Okrug. It included parts of the former area of
Totemsky Uyezd. In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into
Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast itself was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Totemsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since. On July 15, 1929,
Tolshmensky District with the administrative center in the
selo of
Krasnoye was also established. On July 30, 1931, it was abolished and divided between
Shuysky and Totemsky Districts.
Syamzhensky District, which was also established on July 15, 1929, was likewise abolished on July 30, 1931 and divided between Totemsky and
Kharovsky Districts. On January 25, 1935, Syamzhensky District was re-established. ==Administrative and municipal divisions==