The district was established on December 10, 1930 as an administrative division of Yamal (Nenets) National Okrug.[10] At the time, the administrative center of the district was the selo of Khe [ru]. On May 23, 1931, the district was subdivided into two selsoviets: Nydo-Nadymsky and Yavaysko-Gydansky. The latter was renamed Maloyamalsky in 1935.
As of January 1, 1936, the administrative center of the district was the village of Nyda [ru] (the date on which the administrative center was changed is unknown).
On January 24, 1968, Nydo-Nadymsky Selsoviet was renamed Norinsky.
On February 11, 1971 Nadymsky Selsoviet was formed on the territory of the district. On March 9, 1972, the settlement of Nadym was granted town status and became the new administrative center of the district. At the same time, Nadymsky Selsoviet was abolished.
On October 12, 1976 Maloyamalsky Selsoviet was renamed Nydinsky.
As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Nadymsky Municipal District, with the town of okrug significance of Nadym being incorporated within it as Nadym Urban Settlement.[6]
^The count of urban-type settlements may include the work settlements, the resort settlements, the suburban (dacha) settlements, as well as urban-type settlements proper.
Государственная Дума Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа. Закон №42-ЗАО от 6 октября 2006 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа», в ред. Закона №123-ЗАО от 6 декабря 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа в части изменения вида населённого пункт Тазовский путём отнесения его к сельским пунктам и наделении муниципального образования посёлок Тазовский статусом сельского поселения». Вступил в силу по истечении десяти дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Красный Север", №119, 13 октября 2006 г. (State Duma of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Law #42-ZAO of October 6, 2006 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, as amended by the Law #123-ZAO of December 6, 2012 On Amending Various Laws of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Due to Changing the Status of the Inhabited Locality of Tazovsky to a Rural Locality and on Granting the Municipal Formation of the Settlement of Tazovsky the Status of a Rural Settlement. Effective as of the day upon expiration of ten days from the official publication date.).
Государственная Дума Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа. Закон №111-ЗАО от 20 декабря 2004 г. «О наделении статусом, определении административного центра и установлении границ муниципальных образований Надымского района», в ред. Закона №108-ЗАО от 28 октября 2013 г. «О внесении изменения в Закон Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа "О наделении статусом, определении административного центра и установлении границ муниципальных образований Надымского района"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования, за исключением положений, связанных с использованием географического наименования посёлка Заполярный, вступающих в силу со дня принятия соответствующего акта Правительства РФ. Опубликован: "Красный Север", спецвыпуск №6, 31 января 2005 г. (State Duma of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Law #111-ZAO of December 20, 2004 On Granting the Status, Determining the Administrative Center, and Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Nadymsky District, as amended by the Law #108-ZAO of October 28, 2013 On Amending the Law of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug "On Granting the Status, Determining the Administrative Center, and Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of Nadymsky District". Effective as of the day of the official publication, with the exception of clauses dealing with the usage of the geographical name of the settlement of Zapolyarny, which take effect on the day the appropriate act by the Government of the Russian Federation is adopted.).