The arrondissement of Nyons was created in 1800.[4] In 2006 it absorbed the four cantons of Dieulefit, Marsanne, Montélimar-1 and Montélimar-2 from the arrondissement of Valence.[4][5] At the January 2017 reorganisation of the arrondissements of Drôme, it gained one commune from the arrondissement of Valence and six communes from the arrondissement of Die.[6]
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 eleven cantons of the arrondissement of Nyons were, as of January 2015:[7]
