Mufulira was established as a Municipal Board in 1953 and attained its Municipal Status in 1957.
The District is located on the Copperbelt Province and lies on latitude 12 degrees, 32 minutes south of the Equator. It shares borders with several districts within the province namely; Kitwe, Kalulushi, Ndola, Chingola and Chililambombwe. Mufulira also shares an international boundary with the Democratic republic of Congo.
The District covers an area of 1, 637 square kilometres. It has three constituencies namely; Kankoyo, Kantanshi and Mufulira Central. The district has 30 wards namely; David Lunda, Fibusa, Luansobe, Butondo, Mokambo, Mutundu, Kangwa Nsuluka, Shinde, Kamuchanga, Maina Soko, David Kaunda, Minambe, Mupambe, Bwembya Silwizya, Bwafwano, Murundu, Mulungushi, Leya Mukutu, Chachacha, Kafue, Kansuswa, Kasempa, Kawama, Hanky Kalanga, Bwananyina, Bufuke, John Kampengele, Buntungwa, Kwacha, and Mpelembe.