It was founded in 1932. In the VI-VIII centuries there were first settlements of the annalistic slavs on Dnipro banks in borders of modern oblast'. During Kyivs'ka Rus' among the Orel' river passed border with nomad's territories. The tatar invasion has devastated this territories. It has received the name "Wild field". The new settling is connected to Ukrainian cossacks, which was generated in XV-XVI centuries. This territory was included into structure of Zaporiz'ka Sich. From eight Zaporozhye Siches five were on territory of oblast'. In 1783 according to the Kateryna II decree about Sich liquidation the territory was included in the Russian empire.