The history of Vizianagaram district is closely connected with to that of Kalinga, one of the political divisions of ancient India. Only in modern times, the upper part of Kalinga was gradually merged into Orissa State and the lower part into Andhra Region.

In tracing the history of the region, one of the most important events that emerge is the war between the Rajahs of Vizianagaram and Bobbili, popularly known as the Bobbili Yuddham. The war was fought between the Rajah of Vizianagaram who was aided by the French General Bussy and the Rajah of Bobbili on the 24th of January, 1757. The bravery and valour of the soldiers of Bobbili displayed in this war is still remembered by the people of the area. Yet another important episode in the history of the district is the war between the French and the English. This battle was fought at Chandurthi in 1758. The French were defeated in this war and consequently the Northern Circars were handed over to the British under a firman from the Emperor Shah Alam of the Mughal dynasty in 1765 which were placed under the then existing Chief and Council at Vizagapatam. In 1794, the Chiefs and Councils were abolished and Vizagapatam was arranged into three divisions each under a Collector. Almost the entire area of the present area of Vizianagaram district fell under the second division.

The history of the rebellions against foreign rule goes back to 1830s when the people of the district particularly the tribals, unable to beat the oppression, rose in frequent rebellions (fituris) leading to the establishment of separate administrative system known as "Agency Administration" under the India Act XXIV of 1839. The rebellion of Korra Malliah, a tribal chief of the Salur area against the British rule in 1900 is another important event in the struggle against the foreign rule. The District Magistrate dispatched Reserve Police to suppress the revolt which was seriously resisted by the people. In the skirmish that followed many were killed. Korra Malliah along with his son was arrested and kept in imprisonment where he died subsequently. In the freedom struggle the people hailing from the area enthusiastically took part in various phases of the movement like a Non-cooperation movement, Civil Disobedience movement, Quit India Movement etc.

After abolition of the Zamindari system in1948, Visakhapatnam district was found to be unwieldy for administrative purposes. Consequently, Srikakulam district was carved out in 1950, bifurcating it from Visakhapatnam district. The constitution of Vizianagaram district in 1979, by transferring the taluks of Parvathipuram, Kurupam, Salur, Bobbili, Badangi and Cheepurupalle from Srikakulam district and some taluks of Visakhapatnam forms the latest development in the history of the district.