First, an administrative unit with its centre in Orsha was formed in the middle of the XVI century as Orsha area of the Vitebsk voevode. 

Orsha district is located in the south-eastern part of Vitebsk region in the Upper Depr and covers the area of 1.7 thousand square kilometers.

There are 263 localities where more than 38 thousand people reside. District's government consists of 16 villages’ and 1 town’s Councils of Deputies (in the town of Barani).

Orsha district is one of the main bulk-forming districts within Vitebsk region. Each year, bulk grain production is not less than 100 thousand tons with the average crop yield being more than 30 hundredweight per hectare. There are 23 agricultural enterprises in the District including 3 pig-breeding complexes, a greenhouse complex, a cattle-breeding complex, poultry-breeding factory, 2 experimental sites, and 19 farms. Their main specialization is flax and grain growing, dairy and meat cattle breeding.

In accordance with the state program of Rural Revival and Development, 15 villages will get the status of an agro-town by 2010; the village of Zubovo was the first to get this status.

8 industrial enterprises of the District produce construction materials, light industry products, and metal processing products. The share of the “Aekomol” factory that produces all-mash cattle fodder in the District’s bulk manufactured products is 85%. BelHydro-electric power station works in the village of Orekhovsk.

The history and culture of Orsha district is closely interwoven with the history and culture of the country. 2 localities of the District, Levky and Kopyis’, are included into one of the 4 tourist areas created in Vitebsk region.

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