The whole district belongs to the drainage basin of the Sozh River, a major left tributary of the Dnieper. The Sozh itself makes the northwestern border of the district, separating it from Mogilev Region of Belarus. The biggest tributary of the Sozh traversing the district is the Ostyor River, which makes the southwestern border of the district, separating it from Mogilev Region as well.
History
Historically, the area belonged intermittently to the Principality of Smolensk and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, subsequently to Poland. Shumyachi is first mentioned in 1587. The western part of the district was in 1772, as a result of the First Partition of Poland, transferred to Russia and included in the newly established Mogilev Governorate. It belonged to Klimovichsky Uyezd. In 1810, one of the first Arakcheev military settlements was established here. In 1919, Mogilev Governorate was abolished, and the area was transferred to Gomel Governorate. The eastern part, in the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, was included into Smolensk Governorate and remained there until 1929, with the exception of the brief periods between 1713 and 1726, when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into Smolensk Viceroyalty. It belonged to Roslavlsky Uyezd. In 1922, the western part of the district was included to Roslavlsky Uyezd as well. On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Shumyachsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Shumyachi 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. On 27 September 1937 Western Oblast was abolished and split between Oryol and Smolensk Oblasts. Shumyachsky District was transferred to Smolensk Oblast. Between August 1941 and 1943, during WWII, the district was occupied by German troops. In 1965, Shumyachi was granted the urban-type settlement status. In 1972, during the abortive Khrushchyov administrative reform, Yershichsky District was merged into Shumyachsky District. In 1965, it was re-established.
Economy
Industry
The enterprises in the district produce peat, glass, as well as there are several enterprises of food industry.
Agriculture
The main agricultural specializations are cattle breeding with meat and milk production as well as growing of crops and potatoes.
Transportation
The A130 highway which connects Moscow with Babruysk via Obninsk, Roslavl, and Krychaw, crosses the southern part of the district. Shumyachi has a connection to A130. There are also local roads with bus traffic originating from Shumyachi. The railway connecting Roslavl and Krychaw crosses the southern part of the district. The only station inside the district is Ponyatovka railway station, about south of Shumyachi. In Roslavl, the railway has access to Smolensk and Bryansk; there is not through traffic to Belarus. There is no passenger traffic.
