The whole of the district lies in the basin of the Lovat River. The Lovat crosses the district from south to north. The main tributary of the Lovat within the district is the Kunya (right). The town of Kholm is located at the confluence of the Lovat and the Kunya. The western part of the district is occupied by the Polist-Lovat Swamp System located at the border between the basins of the Lovat and the Polist Rivers. In the middle of the swamp, in the northwestern corner of the district, there is Lake Rdeyskoye, the biggest lake in the district and the source of the Redya River, a major left tributary of the Lovat. The Polist-Lovat Swamp System is protected as the Rdeysky Nature Reserve, which is shared between Kholmsky and Poddorsky Districts.[10] 72% of the district's territory is covered by forests.[3]
On August 1, 1927, Pskov Governorate and its uyezds were abolished, and Kholmsky District was established as a part of Velikiye Luki OkrugofLeningrad Oblast, with the administrative center in the town of Kholm.[2] The district included parts of the former Kholmsky Uyezd.[2] On June 3, 1929, Kholmsky District was transferred to Velikiye Luki Okrug of Western Oblast.[13] On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[14] On January 29, 1935, the district was transferred to Kalinin Oblast.[2] Between August 1941 and spring of 1944, the area of the district was occupied by German troops. It was the scene of the Kholm Pocket from January 21 to May 5, 1942. On July 5, 1944, the district was transferred into newly established Novgorod Oblast, but already on August 22, 1944 it was transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast.[15] On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and Kholmsky District was transferred to Pskov Oblast.[15] On July 29, 1958, it was transferred back to Novgorod Oblast[15] and remained there ever since.
On August 1, 1927 Troitsky District was established as well. It included parts of former Velikoluksky and Kholmsky Uyezds, and the administrative center of the district was located in the seloofTroitsa-Khlavitsa. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast, and on June 17, 1929 with the rest of the okrug it was transferred to Western Oblast. In August 1930, the district was renamed Lovatsky. On September 20, 1930 the district was abolished and split between Kholmsky and Loknyansky Districts.[16]
Another district established on August 1, 1927 was Bologovsky District with the administrative center located in the seloofBologovo. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast, and on June 17, 1929 with the rest of the okrug it was transferred to Western Oblast. On September 20, 1930 the district was abolished and split between Kholmsky and Leninsky Districts.[17]
On March 10, 1945, Podberezinsky District with the administrative center in the seloofPodberezye was established. It included parts of Loknyansky, Kholmsky, and Ploskoshsky Districts. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, the district was transferred to Pskov Oblast. On January 14, 1958, the district was abolished and split between Kholmsky, Loknyansky, Velikoluksky, and Ploskoshsky Districts.[16]
As of 2011, there were twenty-three large- and mid-scale farms in the district. Agriculture specializes mainly in cattle breeding as well as crops and potato growing.[18]
The district contains eighty monuments classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[19] Most of these are archaeological sites and graves of soldiers fallen in World War II.
Rdeysky Monastery is a notable monument located on the eastern shore of Lake Rdeyskoye. It was founded not later that the 17th century and abolished in the 1930s. There are no roads leading to the monastery and no villages close to it, and the ensemble of the monastery remains an attraction albeit one which is difficult to reach.
Kholm hosts the Kholm District Museum which was opened in 1983.[20]
Новгородская областная Дума. Областной закон №559-ОЗ от 11 ноября 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области», в ред. Областного закона №730-ОЗ от 26 февраля 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Областной закон "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области"». Вступил в силу 1 января 2006 г. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №75, 23 ноября 2005 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #559-OZ of November 11, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Oblast Law #730-OZ of February 26, 2015 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast". Effective as of January 1, 2006.).
Администрация Новгородской области. Постановление №121 от 8 апреля 2008 г. «Об реестре административно-территориального устройства области», в ред. Постановления №408 от 4 августа 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в реестр административно-территориального устройства области». Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №49–50, 16 апреля 2008 г. (Administration of Novgorod Oblast. Resolution #121 of April 8, 2008 On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #408 of August 4, 2014 On Amending the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast. ).
Новгородская областная Дума. Областной закон №353-ОЗ от 2 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Холмского муниципального района, наделении их статусом городских и сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Областного закона №216-ОЗ от 1 марта 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Областные законы, содержащие перечни населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений». Вступил в силу со дня, следующего за днём официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №79, 8 декабря 2004 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #353-OZ of December 2, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Kholmsky Municipal District, on Granting Them the Status of Urban and Rural Settlements, on Establishing Their Administrative Centers, and on Compiling the Lists of Inhabited Localities Within the Settlement Territories, as amended by the Oblast Law #216-OZ of March 1, 2013 On Amending Various Oblast Laws Containing the Registries of the Inhabited Localities on the Territories of the Settlements. Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication.).
Архивное управление Псковской области. Государственный архив Псковской области.『Административно-территориальное деление Псковской области (1917–2000 гг.). Справочник.』 Книга 1. Изд. 2-е, переработанное и дополненное. Псков, 2002.
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