 The minor district ("king amphoe") was created on 5 March 1981, when the four "tambons", Si Kaeo, Phing Phuai, Sa Yao, and Tum, were split off from Kantharalak District.It was upgraded to a full district on 26 May 1989.The district is divided into seven sub-districts ("tambons"), which are further subdivided into 90 villages ("mubans").