In 1800 the arrondissements of Saintes, Jonzac, Marennes, Rochefort, La Rochelle and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were established. La Rochelle replaced Saintes as prefecture in 1810. The arrondissements of Marennes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were disbanded in 1926. The arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély was restored in 1943.[4]
The borders of the arrondissements of Charente-Maritime were modified in January 2017:[5]
two communes from the arrondissement of Rochefort to the arrondissement of La Rochelle
one commune from the arrondissement of La Rochelle to the arrondissement of Rochefort
17 communes from the arrondissement of Saintes to the arrondissement of Jonzac
one commune from the arrondissement of Saintes to the arrondissement of Rochefort
three communes from the arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély to the arrondissement of Rochefort