The district is located west of Lake Ilmen, and a section of the western shore of the lake belongs to the district. The principal river within the limits of the district is the Shelon, which crosses the southern part of the district and forms an estuary. Shimsk is located on the left bank of the Shelon. Almost the whole area of the district lies in the basin of the Shelon. The biggest (left) tributary of the Shelon within the district is the Mshaga. Minor areas in the north of the district belong to the basin of the Luga River.
In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. The territory of modern Shimsky District was at the time divided between newly established Medvedsky (with the administrative center in the selo of Medved), Novgorodsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts. Those districts were a part of Novgorod Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[12] On February 15, 1935, Shimsky District, with the administrative center in the selo of Shimsk, was established.[2] It included parts of Novgorodsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts.[2] Between August 1941 and February 1944, Shimsky District was occupied by German troops.[2] On July 5, 1944, Shimsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast.[2] In the course of the abortive administrative reform by Nikita Khrushchev, Shimsky District was abolished on February 1, 1963, with its territory split between Soletsky and Starorussky Rural Districts.[13] Subsequently, the area was divided between Novgorodsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts. On February 1, 1973, Shimsky District was re-established.[13] On February 5, 1981, Shimsk was granted urban-type settlement status.[13]
Another district established effective October 1, 1927 was Utorgoshsky District, which was a part of Luga Okrug of Leningrad Oblast and had its administrative center in the railway station of Utorgosh.[14] It included parts of former Luzhsky Uyezd of Petrograd Governorate.[14] On September 20, 1931, Utorgoshsky District was abolished and merged into Soletsky District.[14] On February 15, 1935, it was re-established, and on July 5, 1944 transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast.[14] On December 10, 1962, the district was abolished and merged into Soletsky Rural District.[15] After a number of administrative transformations, its territory ended up divided between Soletsky and Shimsky Districts.
Economy
Industry
Industry in Shimsky District includes food industry and flax textile production. In 2010, the flax factory, located in Utorgosh, was in crisis and had difficulties selling its production.[16]
Agriculture
The main agricultural specializations in the district are the production of meat, milk, and eggs.[16]
Transportation
Shimsk is located on the A116 highway which connects Veliky Novgorod and Porkhov (and continues to Pskov under a different code). It is also connected by roads with Luga, Staraya Russa, and Volot. There are local roads as well.
The Shelon is navigable within the district; however, there is no passenger navigation.
Culture and recreation
The district contains nine cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally ninety-nine objects (one of them in Shimsk) classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[17] The federal monuments are the complex of the palace in the village of Korostyn built by architect Vasily Stasov, the Assumption Church, also in Korostyn, and an archeological site.
Notable residents
Theofan of Poltava (1875–1940), archbishop, born Vassili Bystrov in Podmoshie
^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 №398-ОЗ от 17 января 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Шимского 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 №728-ОЗ от 30 марта 2010 г. «О преобразовании некоторых муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Шимского 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 #398-OZ of January 17, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Shimsky 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 #728-OZ of March 30, 2010 On the Transformation of Several Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Shimsky Municipal District and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication.).