The area of the district is elongated from south to north. The whole area belongs to the river basin of the Volga River and is split between three of its major tributaries. The rivers in the northern part of the district drain into the Tifina, in the basin of the Mologa River. The central part of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Medveditsa River. The southern part of the district belongs to the basin of the Tvertsa River. Both the Tifina and the Medveditsa cross the district.
In the Middle Ages, the area belonged to the Novgorod Republic. In 1238, the Mongols were advancing from Bezhetsk towards Tver and engaged in a battle with Slavs at the banks of the Medveditsa, currently within the area of the district. Mongols won the battle and got the control of the area. After the Novgorod Republic has been annexed by the Grand Duchy of Moscow in the end of the 15th century, the area was a part of the Bezhetsk pyatina, one of the five into which the Novgorod lands were divided. The village of Ostashkovo, which later was merged into the town of Likhoslavl, was first mentioned in 1624.[11]
On July 12, 1929 the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Likhoslavlsky District, with the administrative center in Likhoslavl, was established within Tver OkrugofMoscow Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935 Kalinin Oblast was established, and Likhoslavlsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast. On July 9, 1937 Likhoslavlsky District was included into Karelian National Okrug, which was established as a Tver Karelians autonomy. On February 7, 1939 the okrug was abolished.[12] In February 1963, during the abortive administrative reform by Nikita Khrushchev, Likhoslavlsky District was merged into Torzhoksky District, but on March 4, 1964, it was re-established.[11][12] In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast.
Another district created on July 12, 1929 was Tolmachyovsky District with the administrative center in the seloofTolmachi. It was a part of Tver Okrug of Moscow Oblast. On January 29, 1935 the district was transferred to Kalinin Oblast, and on March 5, 1935, it was renamed Novokarelsky District. On July 9, 1937 it was transferred to Karelian National Okrug. On July 4, 1956 the district was abolished and split between Spirovsky and Likhoslavlsky Districts.[12]
Likhoslavl and Kalashnikovo are connected by road with Torzhok, where they have access to the M10 highway connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Likhoslavl is also connected by road with Mednoye, where it has another access to M10. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Likhoslavl.
The district contains seven cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally fifty objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (seven of them located in Likhoslavl). The federal monuments are the Saint Nicholas Church in the seloofZmeyevo, the Intercession Church in the selo of Stan, and the Pervitino estate with the Trinity Church in the selo of Pervitino.[15]
Likhoslavlsky District is one of four districts of Tver Oblast with a significant number of Tver Karelians.[16] In Likhoslavl, there is a local museum mostly devoted to Tver Karelian culture and ethnography.[17]
^The count of urban-type settlements may include the work settlements, the resort settlements, the suburban (dacha) settlements, as well as urban-type settlements proper.
^ abcИстория края (in Russian). Официальный сайт Администрации Лихославльского района Тверской области. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
^Предприятия Лихославльского района (in Russian). Официальный сайт Администрации Лихославльского района Тверской области. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
^Сельское хозяйство (in Russian). Официальный сайт Администрации Лихославльского района Тверской области. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
Законодательное Собрание Тверской области. Закон №4-ЗО от 18 января 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Тверской области и наделении их статусом городских округов, муниципальных районов», в ред. Закона №65-ЗО от 24 июля 2012 г. «О внесении изменения в статью 2 Закона Тверской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Тверской области и наделении их статусом городских округов, муниципальных районов"». Вступил в силу через десять дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тверские ведомости", №3, 21–27 января 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Tver Oblast. Law #4-ZO of January 18, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Tver Oblast and on Granting Them the Status of Urban Okrugs, Municipal Districts, as amended by the Law #65-ZO of July 24, 2012 On Amending Article 2 of the Law of Tver Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Tver Oblast and on Granting Them the Status of Urban Okrugs, Municipal Districts". Effective as of the day which is ten days after the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Тверской области. Закон №35-ЗО от 28 февраля 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Лихославльский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения», в ред. Закона №52-ЗО от 6 июня 2006 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Законы Тверской области, регулирующие вопросы установления границ муниципальных образований Тверской области». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тверские ведомости", №10, 11–17 марта 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Tver Oblast. Law #35-ZO of February 28, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Likhoslavlsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements, as amended by the Law #52-ZO of June 6, 2006 On Amending Various Laws of Tver Oblast on Regulating the Issues of Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Tver Oblast. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
