The area of the district split between the drainage basins of the Daugava River (the Atlantic) and the Volga River (the Caspian Sea). The rivers in the northern and in the western parts of the district flow into the Tudovka River, a right tributary of the Volga, and into the Osuga River, a left tributary of the Vazuza River. Both the Osuga and the Tudovka have their sources in the district. The central and the southern parts of the district drain into the Luchega River, the Beryoza River, and the Obsha River, the tributaries of the Mezha River, a tributary of the Daugava. The Luchega and the Beryoza have their source in the district, and the Obsha crosses the south of the district. About 60% of the area of Oleninsky District is forested.[11]
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was split between Smolensk Governorate and Ingermanlandia Governorate (since 1710 known as Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727 Novgorod Governorate split off from Saint Petersburg Governorate. In 1775, Tver Viceroyalty was formed from the lands which previously belonged to Moscow and Novgorod Governorates, and the northeastern part of the area was transferred to Tver Viceroyalty, which in 1796 was transformed to Tver Governorate. In 1775, Rzhevsky Uyezd was established, with the center in Rzhev.[13] The southeastern part belonged to Belsky Uyezd of Smolensk Governorate, with the exception of the brief periods between 1713 and 1726, when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into Smolensk Viceroyalty. Olenino was founded in 1898 as a settlement serving the railway station.[12]
On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Oleninsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Olenino was established. It belonged to Rzhev OkrugofWestern Oblast.[14][15] On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. On 29 January 1935 Kalinin Oblast was established, and Oleninsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast.[13][14] During World War II, in 1941—1943, the district was occupied by German troops. On 13 February 1963, Oleninsky District was abolished and merged into Nelidovsky District; on 4 March 1964, it was reestablished. In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast.[15]
On 12 July 1929 Molodotudsky District, with the center in the selo of Molodoy Tud was created as well. It was a part of Rzhev Okrug of Western Oblast. On 1 February 1932 it was abolished. On March 5, 1935 Chertolinsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Chertolino was established. It was a part of Kalinin Oblast. On 20 March 1936 Chertolino was transferred to Rzhevsky District, and Chertolinsky District was renamed Molodotudsky. The administrative center was moved to Molodoy Tud. On 22 August 1958 Molodotudsky District was abolished and split between Kirovsky, Oleninsky, and Rzhevsky Districts.[13]
The main agricultural specializations of the district are cattle breeding with meat and milk production, as well as crops, flax, and potato growing.[11]
The railway which connects Moscow and Riga via Rzhev, crosses the district from east to west. There is passenger railway traffic. Olenino is the biggest railway station in the district.
The M9 highway connecting Moscow with Riga also crosses the district, passing Olenino. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Olenino.
The district contains eight cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 134 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federally protected monuments are the buildings of the Tatyevo Estate in the selo of Tatyevo.[16]
There are local museums in Olenino and in Tatyevo.[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.
^ abВоробьёв, М. В. (1993). Г. В. Туфанова (ed.). Административно-территориальное деление Смоленской области (in Russian). Государственный архив Смоленской области. pp. 118–133.
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 №39-ЗО от 28 февраля 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Оленинский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения», в ред. Закона №61-ЗО от 13 июля 2009 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Тверской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Оленинский 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 #39-ZO of February 28, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Oleninsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements, as amended by the Law #61-ZO of July 13, 2009 On Amending the Law of Tver Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Oleninsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
