[2] Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ōkawa peaked around 1960 but dropped precipitously in the decades afterwards after the completion of the Sameura Dam flooded the main inhabited portion of the village.

During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle.

Ōkawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of six members.

In terms of national politics, the village is part of Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The major industry in Ōkawa Village is logging; much of the town's mountains have been converted into a cedar tree farm.

There is also a nature center which runs summer camps and a study abroad program which allows Japanese youth the opportunity to live in a very remote mountain village for Elementary and/or Junior High School.