In the Middle Ages, the
Shelon River played an important role as a part of the trade route connecting
Novgorod with
Pskov and further with the
Narva River. At the end of the 15th century, the area was annexed, together with Novgorod, by the
Grand Duchy of Moscow, where it was a part of Shelonskaya
pyatina of Novgorod. In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great, it was included in Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, the separate
Novgorod Governorate was split off. At the beginning of the 20th century, Shimsk, then known as Shimsky Perevoz, was the seat of
Shimskaya Volost of
Novgorodsky Uyezd of Novgorod Governorate. In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. The territory of the modern Shimsky District was at the time divided between the newly established
Medvedsky (with the administrative center in the
selo of
Medved),
Novgorodsky,
Soletsky, and
Starorussky Districts. Those districts were a part of
Novgorod Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On February 15, 1935, Shimsky District, with the administrative center in the
selo of Shimsk, was established. It included parts of Novgorodsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts. Subsequently, the area was divided between Novgorodsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts. On February 1, 1973, Shimsky District was re-established. It included parts of the former
Luzhsky Uyezd of
Petrograd Governorate. After a number of administrative transformations, its territory ended up divided between Soletsky and Shimsky Districts. ==Economy==