Almost all of the area of the district belongs to the basin of the Pola River and only minor areas in the western part of the district are in the basin of the Lovat. The district is located on the northern slope of the western part of the Valdai Hills, and the rivers mostly flow from south to north. The Pola crosses the district, and its biggest tributary within the district is the Maryovka River.
Maryovo (Maryova) was mentioned in a chronicle in 1495. The area was a part of Derevskaya Pyatina of the Novgorod Republic. Between 1612 and 1617, during the Ingrian War, it was occupied by Polish and Swedish troops. By 1620, the area became completely depopulated and had to be repopulated again.[10] 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, separate Novgorod Governorate was split off. Until 1824, Maryovo was a part of Starorussky UyezdofNovgorod Viceroyalty (since 1796 of Novgorod Governorate). In 1824, the area was transferred to Demyansky Uyezd, which was split from Starorussky Uyezd.
In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Molvotitsky District, with the administrative center in the seloofMolvotitsy,[11] was established within Novgorod OkrugofLeningrad Oblast effective October 1, 1927.[2] It included parts of former Demyansky Uyezd.[11] On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[12] On September 6, 1941, Molvotitsky District was occupied by German troops.[11] It was partially liberated on January 15, 1942 and fully liberated on February 15, 1943.[11] On February 19, 1944, the administrative center of the district was transferred from Molvotitsy to the selo of Maryovo.[11] On July 5, 1944, Molvotitsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast.[11] On July 22, 1961, a part of abolished Zaluchsky District was merged into Molvotitsky District.[13] On February 1, 1963, the district was abolished in the course of the Nikita Khrushchev's administrative reform.[14] On December 30, 1966, the district was re-established as Maryovsky District.[14] It included the part of the former Molvotitsky District which was previously transferred to Demyansky District.[14]
Effective October 1, 1927,[2]Zaluchsky District with the administrative center in the seloofZaluchye was established as well, as a part of Novgorod Okrug of Leningrad Oblast.[13] It included parts of Starorussky Uyezd.[13] Between August 1941 and February 1943, Zaluchsky District was occupied by German troops.[13] On July 5, 1944, Zaluchsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast.[13] On July 22, 1961, Zaluchsky District was abolished and split between Starorussky and Molvotitsky Districts.[13]
The agriculture of the district is in a deep recession. As of 2010, only 9% of available fields were used for agricultural purposes. Other agricultural specializations in the district are cattle and swine breeding.[15]
The district contains 3 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 117 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[16] All federal monuments are archaeological sites.
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 №401-ОЗ от 17 января 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Марёвского муниципального района, наделении их статусом сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Областного закона №699-ОЗ от 3 марта 2010 г «О преобразовании некоторых муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Марёвского муниципального района, и внесении изменений в некоторые Областные законы». Вступил в силу со дня, следующего за днём официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №11–12, 26 января 2005 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #401-OZ of January 17, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Maryovsky Municipal District, on Granting Them the Status of 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 #699-OZ of March 3, 2010 On the Transformation of Various Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Maryovsky Municipal District and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication.).
[7])
