The whole area of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Sozh River, a left tributary of the Dnieper. The major tributaries of the Sozh (both left) flowing through the district are the Besed River (which has its source in Yershichsky District) and the Iput River. Yershichi is located on the right bank of the Iput River.
On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Yershichsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Yershich was established. The district belonged to Roslavl Okrug of Western Oblast. On August 1, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. In 1932, the district was abolished and split between Roslavlsky and Kletnyansky Districts of Western Oblast. In 1935, it was re-established. On 27 September 1937 Western Oblast was abolished and split between Oryol and Smolensk Oblasts. Yershichsky District was transferred to Smolensk Oblast. Between August 1941 and 1943, during WWII, the district was occupied by German troops. In 1963, during the abortive Khrushchyov administrative reform, Yershichsky District was merged into Shumyachsky District. In 1972, it was re-established.[7]
Economy
Industry
There are several enterprises in the district producing construction materials.[8]
Agriculture
The main agricultural specializations are cattle and pig breeding with meat and milk production as well as growing of crops and potatoes.[9]
Transportation
Yershichi is connected by paved roads with Roslavl and with Shumyachi. There are local roads as well.
Culture and recreation
There is a private ethnographic museum in a ghost village of Novaya Matsilevka, which is unattended.[10]
Администрация Смоленской области. Постановление №261 от 30 апреля 2008 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Смоленской области», в ред. Постановления №464 от 27 июня 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в реестр административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Смоленской области». Опубликован: База данных "Консультант-плюс". (Administration of Smolensk Oblast. Resolution #261 of April 30, 2008 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Territorial Units of Smolensk Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #464 of June 27, 2014 On Amending the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Territorial Units of Smolensk Oblast. ).
Смоленская областная Дума. Закон №86-з от 2 декабря 2004 г. «О наделении статусом муниципального района муниципального образования "Ершичский район" Смоленской области, об установлении границ муниципальных образований, территории которых входят в его состав, и наделении их статусом сельских поселений», в ред. Закона №110-з от 23 ноября 2011 г. «О внесении изменений в областной Закон "О наделении статусом муниципального района муниципального образования "Ершичский район" Смоленской области, об установлении границ муниципальных образований, территории которых входят в его состав, и наделении их статусом сельских поселений"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Вестник Смоленской областной Думы и Администрации Смоленской области", №12, часть II, стр. 291, 5 декабря 2004 г. (Smolensk Oblast Duma. Law #86-z of December 2, 2004 On Granting the Status of the Municipal District to the Municipal Formation of "Yershichsky District" of Smolensk Oblast, on Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Whose Territories It Comprises, and on Granting Them Rural Settlement Status, as amended by the Law #110-z of November 23, 2011 On Amending the Oblast Law "On Granting the Status of the Municipal District to the Municipal Formation of "Yershichsky District" of Smolensk Oblast, on Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Whose Territories It Comprises, and on Granting Them Rural Settlement Status". Effective as of the official publication date.).