On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Kardymovsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Kardymovo was established on the territories which previously belonged to Smolensky, Dorogobuzhsky, and Dukhovshchinsky Uyezds. The district belonged to Smolensk Okrug of Western Oblast. On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. On 20 November 1930 Kardymovsky District was abolished and merged into Smolensky District. On 18 January 1935 Kardymovsky District was re-established. On 27 September 1937 Western Oblast was abolished and split between Oryol and Smolensk Oblasts. Kardymovsky District was transferred to Smolensk Oblast. Between 1941 and September 1943, during WWII, the district was occupied by German troops. On 1 February 1963, Kardymovsky District was merged into Smolensky and Yartsevsky Districts, but on 23 March 1977 it was re-established. In 1979, Kardymovo was made an urban-type settlement.
