It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Bialystok, Lomza and half of Suwalki voivodships as a result of Local Government Reogranization Act of 1998. The voivodship's name recalls the region's traditional name of Podlasie (Podlasie).

Major cities and towns

• Bialystok (287,400);
• Suwalki (70,000);
• Lomza (65,600);
• Augustow (30,600);
• Bielsk Podlaski (28,400);
• Zambrow (24,300);
• Hajnowka (23,900);
• Grajewo (23,100).