The district is located southeast of Lake Ilmen and a stretch of the lake shore belongs to it. The main rivers in the district are the Pola and the Lovat (with the Redya being its main left tributary), the tributaries of Lake Ilmen, which form a joint delta with the Polist. Another tributary of Lake Ilmen which has its mouth in the district is the Mayata. The whole area of the district lies in the basin of Lake Ilmen.
Forests occupy the area of 1,136 square kilometers (439 sq mi), 69% of which are broadleaf and mixed forests. There are about a hundred lakes in the district, with about a half of them located in the river delta of the Lovat.[3]
The Lovat River was a part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, one of the oldest trading routes passing through Rus'. Specifically, the village of Nalyuchi was mentioned in the chronicles in 1200. Many villages were first mentioned in 1495.[11] The area was a part of the Novgorod Republic, and after the fall of Novgorod, it was annexed by 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 Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate was split off. The current territory of Parfinsky District was a part of Starorussky Uyezd. After the uyezds were abolished in 1927, the territory was split between Starorussky and Polskoy Districts which were a part of Novgorod OkrugofLeningrad Oblast. The administrative center of Polskoy District was in the settlement of Pola. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 1, 1932, Polskoy District was abolished and merged into Lychkovsky District. On August 3, 1939, the district was re-established under the name of Polavsky District.[12]
In 1910, a plywood factory was founded in what later became the settlement of Parfino. In 1933, Parfino was granted urban-type settlement status. The area was occupied by German troops between August 1941 and 1943. The battles over the Demyansk Pocket took place here. On July 5, 1944, Starorussky and Polavsky Districts were transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast. In the early 1960s, after a series of reforms, Polavsky District was abolished and split between Demyansky and Starorussky Districts. On December 13, 1968, Parfinsky District was established by splitting it from Starorussky District.[2] On December 23, 1968, additional territories from Starorussky District were appended to it.[2]
Timber industry is the main branch of industry in the district.[3] In 2009, Parfino Plywood Factory, the major employer in the district, went bankrupt.[13]
A railway which connects Bologoye and Pskov via Staraya Russa crosses the district from east to west. The main stations within the district are Pola and Parfino.
The district contains two cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally eighty-one objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[14] Almost all of these are archaeological sites and graves of soldiers fallen in World War II. Both heritage objects of federal significance are archaeological sites.
^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.
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 №354-ОЗ от 2 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Парфинского муниципального района, наделении их статусом городского и сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Областного закона №120-ОЗ от 3 октября 2012 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", №82, 15 декабря 2004 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #354-OZ of December 2, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Parfinsky 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 #120-OZ of October 3, 2012 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.).
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