The minor district (King Amphoe) Mae Tha was established in 1939, when it was split off from Mueang Lamphun district. It was upgraded to a full district on July 22 1958.1
The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 68 villages (muban). There are two townships (thesaban tambon) - Tha Sop Sao covers parts of tambon Tha Sop Sao, and Tha Kat parts of tambon Tha Kat and Tha Khum Ngoen. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).