The whole area of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Mologa River, a major tributary of the Rybinsk Reservoir. The source of the Mologa is in the southeastern part of the district. The river flows east, exits the district, and re-enters it again in the central and northern part. In particular, the settlement of Maksatikha is located on the banks of the Mologa. The major tributary of the Mologa within the district is the Volchina River (left).
Since the Middle Ages, the area was on the eastern border of Novgorod Lands. In the 15th century, together with Novgorod, it was transferred to the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Saint Petersburg Governorate (before 1710, Ingermanland Governorate). In 1727, Novgorod Governorate was split off, and the western part of the current area of the district was transferred to Novgorod Governorate. At the same time, the eastern part was transferred to Moscow Governorate. In 1775, Tver Viceroyalty was formed from the lands which previously belonged to Moscow and Novgorod Governorates. The whole area of the current district was transferred to Tver Viceroyalty. In 1796, Tver Viceroyalty was transformed into Tver Governorate.[11] The area was split between Bezhetsky and Vyshnevolotsky Uyezds.
On July 12, 1929 the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Maksatikhinsky District, with the administrative center in the settlement of Maksatikha, was established within Bezhetsk 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 Maksatikhinsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast.[11]
On July 9, 1937 Maksatikhinsky District was included into Karelian National Okrug, which was established as a Tver Karelians autonomy. On February 7, 1939 the okrug was abolished.[11] In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast.
On June 1, 1936 Brusovsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Brusovo was established as a part of Kalinin Oblast. On November 14, 1960, it was abolished and split between Maksatikhinsky and Udomelsky Districts.[11]
On July 9, 1937, Kozlovsky District with the administrative center in the seloofKozlovo was established as a part of Karelian National Okrug. On February 7, 1939 it was subordinated directly to Kalinin Oblast. On July 4, 1956 it was abolished and split between Maksatikhinsky and Spirovsky Districts.[11]
The railway connecting Rybinsk and Bologoye via Bezhetsk crosses the district from east to west. Maksatikha is the principal station within the district.
Maksatikha is connected by roads with Tver via Rameshki, with Bezhetsk, with Vyshny Volochyok, and with Lesnoye. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Maksatikha.
The district contains seventeen cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally twenty-five objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federal monuments include the complex of the Nikolo-Terebensky Monastery in the settlement of Truzhenik, the Dormition Church in the selo of Dobryni, built in the middle of the 18th century, as well as a number of archeological sites.[14]
Maksatikhnsky District is one of four districts of Tver Oblast with a significant number of Tver Karelians.[15]
^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.
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 №36-ЗО от 28 февраля 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Максатихинский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения», в ред. Закона №110-ЗО от 24 декабря 2014 г. «О представительных органах и главах вновь образованных муниципальных образований Тверской области и внесении изменения в Приложение №1 к Закону Тверской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Максатихинский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тверские ведомости", №10, 11–17 марта 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Tver Oblast. Law #36-ZO of February 28, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Maksatikhinsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements, as amended by the Law #110-ZO of December 24, 2014 On the Representative Bodies and Heads of the Newly Established Municipal Formations in Tver Oblast and on Amending Appendix #1 to the Law of Tver Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Maksatikhinsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
