During the thesaphiban administrative reforms the district was created in 1895 in the name Bia Sad (เบิ้ยซัด). On March 22, 1903 it was renamed to Pak Phanang, a name first recorded for the area in 1665.
On October 25, 1962 Tropical Storm Harriet hit the district. The low Talumphuk peninsula to the north of the district was completely devastated, and even in the town Pak Phanang itself the storm surge made the water rise to 4 meter depth. The flooding caused more than 1000 fatalities, and many more homeless.