It belongs to the famous Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district.

It lost its town status in 1902, and in many ways its role was taken over by Encs.

Many famous men had connections with Abaújszántó, the poet Ilosvai Selymes Péter worked here as a schoolmaster, and Gáspár Károli, who translated the Bible to Hungarian, lived nearby, and the Protestant pastors of Abaújszántó helped him in his translating work.

The esperantist poet and translator Kálmán Kalocsay was also born in Abaújszántó.

Before World War II, there was a large Jewish community of about 681 Jews.