Since 1566, Kretinga has been the administrative centre of the district. In 1915 it was made the centre of the county, and since 1950 it has been the administrative centre of the region.

Roads run from the town to Siauliai, Klaipeda and Palanga, and railway lines to Vilnius, Klaipeda and Priekule (in Latvia). The head of the municipality is the mayor, who is elected by the Regional Council. Since 1996, Juozas Sakinis has been mayor.

The region covers an area of 991 km2 and has nearly 46,000 inhabitants. Forests cover 33% of the territory. Three rivers, the Sventoji, the Akmena and the Minija, cross the region. There is only one natural lake, but there are five water reservoirs. The region is divided into 8 administrative localities, each headed by an elder appointed by the mayor of the region. The main occupations in the region are: trade, small-scale industry and agriculture. The oil fields are under state administration.

The Kretinga region includes four hospitals, 33 schools, 1 special boarding school, an art and music school, 2 agricultural colleges, a high school, a public library with branches all over the region, 11 Catholic churches and one Lutheran church, and a Franciscan monastery (founded in 1602). There are 2 local newspapers. The inhabitants of the district are famous for their cultural traditions and cultural activities. There are two choirs, two theatres (one children's, one adults') folk-dance groups and a band.

The old town on Kretinga.