until 1803 the region was divided between the clerical state of bamberg and the margravate of brandenburg-kulmbach centred in bayreuth. then it fell to bavaria. the district in its present borders was established in 1972 by merging the former district of forchheim with parts of the dissolved districts of ebermannstadt and pegnitz. the city of forchheim lost its status as a district-free city and became the capital.