Al-Mahwit's development is fairly recent compared to some other Yemeni settlements.

Its first known historical mention is in 1599 (1007 AH), in the Ghayat al-amani of Yahya ibn al-Husayn.

The town had a population of about 10,000 in the early 1980s, after which infrastructure was developed and water, sanitation and electricity added.

Rain is concentrated in spring and summer, with a dry gap between the two rainy seasons.

The area and surrounding governorate depends on agriculture, mainly the production of coffee, tobacco, corn, sorghum and qat.