The area of present-day Ōdate was part of ancient Dewa Province, and numerous Jomon period ruins have been found within city limits.

During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain, and who maintained a secondary fortification at Ōdate Castle.

During the Meiji period, the discovery of "black ore" (sphalerite and galena - a mixture of zinc, lead, gold, silver, and other precious metals), led to the development of numerous mines in the area, including the Hanaoka mine;[5] however, the deposits were depleted by the mid-Shōwa period.

On June 20, 2005, the towns of Hinai and Tashiro (both from Kitaakita District) were merged into Ōdate, almost doubling the city's area.

Ōdate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.