In the 13th and most of the 14th century the region was a regional centre of the Hohenzollern state. The Cadolzburg (a castle west of Nuremberg) was the seat of the local rulers.
The present district was established in 1972.
In 2003 the administrative seat was moved from Fürth to Zirndorf. (Nonetheless, Fürth remains the official capital of the district.)