Novosokolnichesky District is located in the Bezhanitsy Hills, a hilly plateau of glacial origin, and the area of the district is divided between the drainage basins of the Neva and the Narva. The rivers in the northwest and in the west of the district drain into the Velikaya River, which belongs to the Narva River basin. The source of the Velikaya is located in the district as well. The major part of the area of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Lovat, which is a tributary of Lake Ilmen and belongs to the Neva basin. The main rivers in the district which belong to the drainage basin of the Lovat are the Nasva and the Smerdel.
31.2% of the area of the district is covered by forests.[8]
On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Novosokolnichesky District was established, with the administrative center in the town of Novosokolniki. It included parts of former Velikoluksky and Nevelsky Uyezds. Pskov Governorate was abolished as well, and the district became a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929, the district was transferred to Western Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935, the district was transferred to Kalinin Oblast, and on February 5 of the same year, Novosokolnichesky District became a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Kalinin Oblast, one of the okrugs abutting the state boundaries of the Soviet Union. On May 4, 1938, the district was subordinated directly to the oblast. Between 1941 and 1944, Novosokolnichesky District was occupied by German troops. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and Novosokolnichesky District was transferred to Pskov Oblast.[11]
On August 1, 1927 Rykovsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Skokovo was also created. It included parts of former Velikoluksky and Opochetsky Uyezds. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929 the district was transferred to Western Oblast. On September 20, 1930, Rykovsky District was abolished and split between Nasvinsky, Loknyansky, Novosokolnichesky, and Pustoshkinsky Districts.[11]
Another district established on August 1, 1927 was Nasvinsky District, with the administrative center in the settlement of Nasva. It included parts of former Velikoluksky Uyezd. The district was a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929 the district was transferred to Western Oblast. On January 1, 1932, Nasvinsky District was abolished and split between Loknyansky, Velikoluksky, and Novosokolnichesky Districts.[11]
Economy
Industry
The district has enterprises of textile and food industries.[12]
Agriculture
The main specialization of agriculture in the district is meat and milk production. In 2011, there were nine large- and mid-scale farms in the district.[13]
Transportation
Novosokolniki is an important railway hub, located at the crossing of two lines. One railway connects Moscow and Velikiye Luki with Riga and runs in the east–west direction. Another railway, running in the north–south direction, connects Saint Petersburg and Dno with Nevel. In Nevel, south of Novosokolniki, it splits into two railway lines, both running southeast into Belarus: One line to Vitebsk, and another one to Grodno via Polotsk and Molodechno.
The M9 highway which connects Moscow and Riga crosses the district from east to west. Novosokolniki has an easy access to the highway. Novosokolniki is furthermore connected by roads with Velikiye Luki and Nevel. A road connecting Velikiye Luki and Porkhov via Loknya crosses the northeastern part of the district. There are also local roads.
Culture and recreation
The district contains three objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of federal significance and twenty-six monuments of local significance.[14] The federal monuments are the wooden church in the village of Nasteny, a monument to fallen soldiers, and an archeological site.
Псковское областное Собрание депутатов. Закон №833-оз от 5 февраля 2009 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Псковской области». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Псковская правда", №20, 10 февраля 2009 г. (Pskov Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #833-oz of February 5, 2009 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Pskov Oblast. Effective as of the official publication date.).
Псковское областное Собрание депутатов. Закон №420-оз от 28 февраля 2005 г. «Об установлении границ и статусе вновь образуемых муниципальных образований на территории Псковской области», в ред. Закона №1542-ОЗ от 5 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Псковской области "Об установлении границ и статусе вновь образуемых муниципальных образований на территории Псковской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Псковская правда", №41–43, №44–46, №49–51, 4 марта 2005 г., 5 марта 2005 г., 11 марта 2005 г. (Pskov Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #420-oz of February 28, 2005 On Establishing the Borders and the Status of the Newly Formed Municipal Formations on the Territory of Pskov Oblast, as amended by the Law #1542-OZ of June 5, 2015 On Amending the Law of Pskov Oblast "On Establishing the Borders and the Status of the Newly Formed Municipal Formations on the Territory of Pskov Oblast". Effective as of the official publication date.).