The district is elongated from north to south. Almost the whole area of the district belongs to the basin of the Volga River and drains to the east. The main rivers within the district are the Shola (atributaryofLake Beloye), the Suda and its major right tributary, the Kolp, a tributary of the Rybinsk Reservoir, and the Chagodoshcha, a left tributary of the Mologa. Minor areas in the northwest of the district belong to the basin of the Oyat River, a tributary of Lake Ladoga; and the Oyat itself has its source in the district. Thus, the divide between the basins of the Baltic Sea and the Caspian Sea crosses the district.
There are many lakes of glacial origin in the district, especially in the northwest. The biggest of them are Lake Linzhozero and Lake Pyazhozero, both located in the basin of the Suda, and Lake Sholskoye, the source of the Shola.
Rivers, lakes and swamps occupy a considerable part of the district's territory.[4]
Historically the area was sparsely populated by Finnic peoples, of whom the Vepsians, a few still living in the district, are the descendants. Although this area formally became a part of the Novgorod Republic and subsequently of the Principality of Beloozero, none of the villages located in the area were mentioned in any documents until the end of the 14th century.[11] The first historic reference to "Suda land" is in Dmitry Donskoy's testament.
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). In 1727, a separate Novgorod Governorate was split off. The current area of the district was split between Belozersky Uyezd (north of the Kolp) and Ustyuzhensky Uyezd (south of the Kolp). In 1776, the area was transferred to Novgorod Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and both uyezds were transferred to Novgorod Governorate. Babayevo, then a village, developed as a settlement around an iron production plant in the 19th century. Important historic route - St.Petersburg-Tikhvin-Belozersk tract - runs via this district and crosses the Suda River at Borisovo-Sudskoye. Borisovo-Sudskoye become important trading and fair location in the 19th century. Khvalevskoye Manor is located here, a country seat of Russian noble family Kachalov.
After Bolshevik revolution, in June 1918 five uyezds of Novgorod Governorate, including Belozersky and Ustyuzhensky Uyezds, were split off to form Cherepovets Governorate, with the administrative center in Cherepovets. In 1925, Babayevo was granted town status. On August 1, 1927, Cherepovets Governorate was abolished, and its area became Cherepovets OkrugofLeningrad Oblast. Simultaneously, the uyezds were abolished and Babayevsky District was established. On September 23, 1937, Babayevsky District was transferred to newly established Vologda Oblast.[2]
On August 1, 1927, Borisovo-Sudsky District with the administrative center in the seloofBorisovo-Sudskoye[12] and Oshtinsky District with the administrative center in the selo ofOshta[13] were also established. Borisovo-Sudsky District was a part of Cherepoivets Okrug of Leningrad Oblast, whereas Oshtinsky District was a part of Lodeynoye Pole Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. In 1937, both were transferred from Leningrad Oblast to Vologda Oblast. On December 12, 1955, Oshtinsky District was abolished. The area of Oshtinsky District was split between Vytegorsky and Borisovo-Sudsky Districts. In 1959, Borisovo-Sudsky District was abolished as well and merged into Babayevsky District.[2]
Babayevsky District is one of the areas traditionally populated by Vepsians, although now representing less than 1,000 people or less than 5% of total district's population according to the latest census. The Vepsians living in the district speak the central group of Veps dialects.[14]
The railroad connecting VologdatoSaint Petersburg via Cherepovets crosses the southern part of the district from east to west. The main railway station within the district is Babayevo.
Babayevo has an all-season road connection south to Ustyuzhna and north to Borisovo-Sudskoye. There are no all-season through roads to Vytegorsky District, Belozersky District, or to Leningrad Oblast.
The district contains one archaeological monument of federal significance which is a group of tumuli near the village of Stepanovo.[17]
The Babayevsky District Museum is located in Babayevo. The museum opened in 1978 mostly due to the efforts of Mariya Gorbunova, a local teacher and later the head of the local education department.[18] The museum is named after her.[19]
The historic site of Khvalevskoe Manor is located in the village of Borisovo-Sudskoye.
^Оштинский район (авг. 1927 – сент. 1937) (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №371-ОЗ от 4 июня 1999 г. «О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области», в ред. Закона №2916-ОЗ от 7 декабря 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон области "О вопросах административно-территориального устройства Вологодской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №124–125, 29 июля 1999 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #371-OZ of June 4, 1999 On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Law #2916-OZ of December 7, 2012 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Matters of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Vologda Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Правительство Вологодской области. Постановление №178 от 1 марта 2010 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц Вологодской области», в ред. Постановления №686 от 25 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Постановления Правительства области». Вступил в силу 20 марта 2010 г. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №29, 20 марта 2010 г. (Government of Vologda Oblast. Resolution #178 of March 1, 2010 On Adopting the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Vologda Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #686 of June 25, 2012 On Amending Various Resolutions of the Oblast Government. Effective as of March 20, 2010.).
Законодательное Собрание Вологодской области. Закон №1105-ОЗ от 6 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ Бабаевского муниципального района, границах и статусе муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав», в ред. Закона №2809-ОЗ от 5 июля 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Законы области, устанавливающие границы и статус муниципальных образований области». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №242, 11 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vologda Oblast. Law #1105-OZ of December 6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of Babayevsky Municipal District, on the Borders and Status of the Municipal Formations It Comprises, as amended by the Law #2809-OZ of July 5, 2012 On Amending Various Laws of the Oblast, Establishing the Borders and the Status of the Municipal Formations of the Oblast. Effective as of after 10 days from the day of the official publication.).
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