The whole area of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Volga. The Volga itself crosses the northern part of the district. The biggest tributaries of the Volga within the district are the Derzha and the Vazuza, in the lower course together with a major tributary, the Osuga, built as Vazuza Reservoir. The northeastern part of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Shosha, a major right tributary of the Volga. The Shosha itself crosses the eastern part of the district. The landscape of the district are primarily smooth hills.
History
Zubtsov was first mentioned in 1216.[9] Due to its location on the Volga, it controlled one of the versions of the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks.[10] In the 14th century, the area belonged to Principality of Tver. Between 1318 and 1460, separate Zubtsov Principality existed with the seat in Zubtsov. It was subordinate to Principality of Tver. In 1460, it was abolished and merged back to Principality of Tver. In 1485, the area was included to the Grand Duchy of Moscow.[11]
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Ingermanlandia Governorate (since 1710 known as Saint Petersburg Governorate), and in 1727 Novgorod Governorate split off. In 1775, Tver Viceroyalty was formed from the lands which previously belonged to Moscow and Novgorod Governorates, and the area was transferred to Tver Viceroyalty, which in 1796 was transformed to Tver Governorate. In 1775, Zubtsovsky Uyezd was established, with the center in Zubtsov. The whole area of the district belonged to Zubtsovsky Uyezd. On 30 May 1922, Zubtsovsky Uyezd was abolished and merged into Rzhevsky Uyezd.[12]
On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Zubtsovsky District with the administrative center in the town of Zubtsov was established. It belonged to Rzhev Okrug of Western Oblast.[13][14] On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. On 29 January 1935 Kalinin Oblast was established, and Zubtsovsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast.[12][13] During World War II, in 1941—1943, the district was occupied by German troops. In February 1963, during the abortive administrative reform by Nikita Khrushchev, Zubtsovsky District was merged into Rzhevsky District, but on 12 January 1965 it was re-established.[12] In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast.[14]
On 12 July 1929 Pogorelsky District, with the center in the selo of Pogoreloye Gorodishche was created as well. It was a part of Rzhev Okrug of Moscow Oblast. In 1934, the district was abolished. On 10 February 1935 Pogorelsky District was re-established and transferred to Kalinin Oblast. On 14 November 1960 Pogorelsky District was abolished and merged into Zubtsovsky District.[12]
Economy
Industry
There are enterprises of timber industry and of metallurgy in the district.[15]
Agriculture
The main agricultural specializations of the district are cattle breeding with meat and milk production, and crops growing.[15]
Transportation
The railroad which connects Moscow and Riga via Rzhev, crosses the district from east to west. The principal stations within the district are Zubtsov and Knyazhyi Gory.
The M9 highway connecting Moscow with Riga also crosses the district passing Zubtsov. Another road to Gagarin branches off south. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Zubtsov.
The Volga is navigable, however, there is no passenger navigation.
The district contains 17 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance (4 of them in Zubtsov) and additionally 103 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (22 of them in Zubtsov). The federal monuments include the Dormition Cathedral in Zubtsov, the complex of the Stepanovskoye Estate in the selo of Volosovo, as well as a number of archeological sites and of monuments related to World War II.[16]
The Zubtsov District Museum, open in 1988 and located in Zubtsov, exhibits collections of local interest, including historical and archeological collections.[17]
^ abВоробьёв, М. В. (1993). Г. В. Туфанова (ed.). Административно-территориальное деление Смоленской области (in Russian). Государственный архив Смоленской области. pp. 118–133.
Законодательное Собрание Тверской области. Закон №4-ЗО от 18 января 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Тверской области и наделении их статусом городских округов, муниципальных районов», в ред. Закона №65-ЗО от 24 июля 2012 г. «О внесении изменения в статью 2 Закона Тверской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований Тверской области и наделении их статусом городских округов, муниципальных районов"». Вступил в силу через десять дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тверские ведомости", №3, 21–27 января 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Tver Oblast. Law #4-ZO of January 18, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Tver Oblast and on Granting Them the Status of Urban Okrugs, Municipal Districts, as amended by the Law #65-ZO of July 24, 2012 On Amending Article 2 of the Law of Tver Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Tver Oblast and on Granting Them the Status of Urban Okrugs, Municipal Districts". Effective as of the day which is ten days after the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Тверской области. Закон №25-ЗО от 28 февраля 2005 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Зубцовский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения», в ред. Закона №7-ЗО от 9 марта 2011 г. «О внесении изменения в Приложение №1 к Закону Тверской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории муниципального образования Тверской области "Зубцовский район", и наделении их статусом городского, сельского поселения"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тверские ведомости", №10, 11–17 марта 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Tver Oblast. Law #25-ZO of February 28, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Zubtsovsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements, as amended by the Law #7-ZO of March 9, 2011 On Amending Appendix 1 of the Law of Tver Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Comprised by the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Zubtsovsky District" and on Granting Them the Status of Urban, Rural Settlements". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).