The arrondissement of Altkirch was created in 1800. In 1857 the subprefecture was moved to Mulhouse. In 1871 it was disbanded when the area was ceded to Germany. The arrondissement of Mulhouse was restored in 1919.[4] In January 2015 it absorbed five communes of the former arrondissement of Guebwiller and two communes of the former arrondissement of Thann.[5]
As a result of the reorganisation of the cantons of France which came into effect in 2015, the borders of the cantons are no longer related to the borders of the arrondissements. The cantons of the arrondissement of Mulhouse were, as of January 2015:[6]