The area of the district was the central district khwaeng of Mueang Khong Chiam, which is now Si Mueang Mai district. On 1 January 1957 the three tambons Khong Chiam, Huai Yang, and Pho Klang were split off from Khong Chiam to form the Ban Dan minor district (king amphoe).[1] On 11 December 1959 it was elevated to a full district.[2]
On 14 September 1971 the district was renamed "Khong Chiam", while the former district Khong Chiam was renamed "Si Mueang Mai", as the historical center of Mueang Khong Chiam was in this district.[3]
It is thought that the name Khong Chiam comes from the word khong (โขง) meaning 'chief of elephants' or 'herd of elephants' (khlong; โขลง in Thai) and chiam (เจียม) from the word chiang (เจียง), which means 'tribute'. Overall, it can be meaning 'city with elephants live together in large herds'.[4]
The district is divided into five sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 50 villages (mubans). The township (thesaban tambon) Ban Dan covers parts of tambon Khong Chiam. There are a further five tambon administrative organizations (TAO).