On 30 April 1815, Prussian authorities reorganised the states of the kingdom into 10 provinces with the Verordnung wegen verbesserter Einrichtung der Provinzialbehörden (English: Regulation for the establishment of improved provincial authorities), of which Jülich-Cleves-Berg was one. The province's name was a reference to the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, a former territory of the Holy Roman Empire which contained most of the land.
The provincial government was headquartered in Cologne, with the province subdivided into Regierungsbezirke (districts) of Düsseldorf, Cleves and Cologne from 22 April 1816. The provincial president was Frederick, Count of Solms-Laubach.