The district was formed on August 1, 2008. This was the result of an administration reform in Saxony. The rural district Zwickau was built up by the Chemnitzer Land Rural District, Zwickauer Land Rural District and the town of Zwickau. The county seat of the district is the biggest city Zwickau. However, the former county seats of the different districts were kept as outpost. Those are namely Glauchau, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Werdau and Hohenstein-Ernstthal.