西汉朔方郡始建于汉武帝元朔二年(前127年),辖10县;新莽时期,朔方郡及属县仅是名称有所变化;东汉光武年间朔方郡曾被撤销,后复置,辖6县;东汉朔方郡至汉献帝建安二十年(215年)撤销。两汉时期朔方郡的建置沿革与鄂尔多斯高原西北部及其毗邻地区的政治、军事形势的变化,以及汉王朝的战略部署、民族关系密切关联。
Shuofang County was established in 127 B. C,and it governed 10 counties. In the Xin Mang period,the names of Shuofang County and its jurisdictions changed. Shuofang County was repealed in the Eastern Han Dynasty by Liu Xiu during Guangwu years,but it was reset soon and it governed 6 counties until it was completely repealed in 215 B. C. The evolution of the establishment of Shuofang county in the period of two Han dynasties was closely associated with the change of political and military situation in Northwestern Ordos plateau and its adjacent areas as well as the strategic deployment and the Ethnic relations of Han Dynasty.