The
Lovat River was a part of the
trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, one of the oldest trading routes passing through
Rus'. This branch of the route followed the Lovat upstream and then the Usvyacha and the Western Dvina. The area was populated since the Middle Ages, and Usvyaty (Vsvyach) was first mentioned in chronicles under 1021. The area was changing hands multiple times between Russia and
Poland, eventually went to Poland and stayed there until the
First Partition of Poland in 1772, when it was included into newly established
Pskov Governorate, a giant administrative unit comprising what is currently Pskov Oblast and a considerable part of Belarus. After 1773, the area was split between
Nevelsky and
Velizhsky Uyezds of Pskov Governorate. In 1777, it was transferred to
Polotsk Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished and the area was transferred to
Belarus Governorate; since 1802 to
Vitebsk Governorate. Usvyaty was a center of
Usvyatskaya Volost of Velizhsky Uyezd. After 1919, Vitebsk Governorate was a part of
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In 1924, Vitebsk Governorate was abolished, and Nevelsky and Velizhsky Uyezds were transferred to Pskov Governorate. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Usvyatsky District was established, with the administrative center in the
selo of Usvyaty. It included parts of former Nevelsky and Velizhsky Uyezds. Pskov Governorate was abolished as well, and the district became a part of
Velikiye Luki Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929, Usvyatsky District was transferred to
Western Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On September 27, 1937, Western Oblast was abolished, and the district was transferred to
Smolensk Oblast. Between 1941 and 1944, Usvyatsky 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 Usvyatsky District was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On October 3, 1959 the district was abolished and merged into Nevelsky District. On December 30, 1966 it was re-established. On October 15, 1985 Usvyaty was granted urban-type settlement status. On August 1, 1927,
Usmynsky District with the administrative center in the selo of
Usmyn was created on the territories which previously belonged to Nevelsky and
Toropetsky Uyezds. It was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929, the district was transferred to Western Oblast, and on September 20, 1930, Usmynsky District was abolished and split between Velizhsky and Usvyatsky Districts. On March 10, 1945, it was re-established as Prikhabsky District, with the administrative center in the selo of
Prikhaby, a part of Velikiye Luki Oblast, from the areas belonging to Usvyatsky and Kunyinsky Districts. In March 1949 the administrative center of the district was moved to Usmyn, and the district renamed Usmynsky. On October 2, 1957, the district was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On October 3, 1959, Usmynsky District was abolished and merged into Kunyinsky District. On August 1, 1927,
Porechyevsky District with the administrative center in the selo of
Porechye was created as well on the territories which previously belonged to Nevelsky Uyezd. It was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929, the district was transferred to Western Oblast, and on September 20, 1930, Porechyevsky District was abolished and split between Velikoluksky, Nevelsky, and Usvyatsky Districts. On March 10, 1945, it was re-established as Porechensky District, a part of Velikiye Luki Oblast, from the areas belonging to Velikoluksky and Nevelsky Districts. On October 2, 1957, the district was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On March 23, 1959, Porechensky District was abolished and merged into Velikoluksky District. ==Economy==