The district has two major ethnic groups - the Tshangla and the Lhotshampa. The Tshanglas are Buddhists while the Lhotshampas are predominantly Hindus.

There are few places of spiritual significance in the district. It was in Dewathang where, in 1884, the last battle with the British was fought. Jigme Namgyal, the father of the first king, put up a strong resistance against the British, though he ultimately signed the treaty of Sinchula with the British in 1865.