The District was created by the Acts of the 70th Legislature (1987), HB 792, and Chapter 865 in accordance with Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 35 and 36 of the Texas Water Code, as amended. The voters of Gillespie County approved the creation of the District in August 1987. The District boundaries are coterminous with Gillespie County.

The District was created for the purpose of conserving, preserving, recharging, controlling subsidence, protecting and preventing waste of groundwater in the aquifers, and to implement proper management techniques to address local groundwater conditions within Gillespie County.