Sokolsky District, Vologda Oblast

The district is elongated from west to east and lies in the basin of the Sukhona River. The westernmost part of the district is on the shore of Lake Kubenskoye. The source of the Sukhona is located in Ust-Kubinsky District, but a relatively short stretch of the river course runs through the district downstream of the source. In particular, the town of Sokol is located on the banks of the Sukhona. The rivers in the central and eastern parts of the district drain into the Dvinitsa River which crosses the district from north to south, as well as into other tributaries of the Sukhona such as the Pelshma, the Strelitsa, and the Tsaryova. The northwest of the district lies in the basin of the Kubena River which forms the border between Sokolsky and Ust-Kubensky Districts. The northeast of the district is in the basin of the Syamzhena River, a major tributary of the Kubena.

Considerable parts of the district are covered by forests.

The Intercession Church in the selo of Zamoshye

The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoples and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic. In the 13th century, it became a part of the Principality of Beloozero. In the 14th century, the Principality of Beloozero became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow; however, lands adjacent of Lake Kubenskoye remained quasi-independent until the 15th century. In 1345, the lands along Lake Kubenskoye were organized into three principalities: the Principality of Novlenskoye southwest of the lake, the Principality of Zaozyorye northeast of the lake, and the Principality of Kubena southwest of the Kubena (the area was generally known as Kubena). The current area of the district partially overlaps with the area of the Principality of Kubena, which only existed for a short period before merging with the Principality of Zaozyorye. Before 1447, both became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow as well.[12] Some of the villages in the area were first mentioned in the 15th century, including Kadnikov, which was first mentioned in 1492.

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, Arkhangelogorod Governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty, and in 1796 the latter was split into Arkhangelsk and Vologda Governorates. What is now Sokolsky District was then a part of Kadnikovsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate. Kadnikov was chartered in 1780.

In November 1923, the Vologda Executive Committee decided to create Sverdlovsko-Sukhonsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Sokol; however, the decision was not approved by the central authorities, and the district was never created.[2]

On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, the governorates merged into Northern Krai, and Sverdlovsky District with the administrative center in the work settlement of Sokol was established among others. It became a part of Vologda Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1932, Sokol was granted town status, and the district was renamed Sokolsky.[2] In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast itself was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Sokolsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since.

On January 25, 1935, Biryakovsky District was established on the lands which previously belonged to Sokolsky and Mezhdurechensky Districts. The administrative center of the district became the selo of Biryakovo, currently in Sokolsky District. In 1959, it was abolished and split between Sokolsky and Mezhdurechensky Districts.[2]

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Sokolsky District is one of the twenty-six in the oblast.[1] The town of Sokol serves as its administrative center,[3] despite being incorporated separately as a town of oblast significance—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1] The district is divided into one town of district significance (Kadnikov) and twelve selsoviets.[7]

As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Sokolsky Municipal District and is divided into two urban and eight rural settlements, with the town of oblast significance of Sokol being incorporated within the municipal district as Sokol Urban Settlement.[8] The town of Kadnikov is also incorporated within the municipal district as an urban settlement (Kadnikov Urban Settlement).[8]

Ilyinsky Pogost close to the town of Kadnikov

The district contains 3 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance (the ensemble of Ilyinsky Pogost several kilometers north of Kadnikov and the Church of Archangel Michael in the selo of Arkhangelskoye) and additionally 101 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (35 of them located in the town of Kadnikov).[15]

In addition to the Sokol District Museum, located in Sokol,[16] the district hosts the Kadnikov Museum of History, which was opened in 1985 and is located in one of the historical buildings in the center of Kadnikov.[17]