In the distant past, wild cows were often a menace to villagers in this area, due to which the district got its name.

[citation needed] The area was ruled by zamindars hailing from the Koch belonging to Indo-Mongoloid ethnic group of peoples from the 16th century to the end of princely states in 1956.

[citation needed] The original Goalpara district was first created in 1822 by David Scott, an employee of the East India Company and the first Commissioner of newly created North east Rangpur district headquarters at Rangpur town (now in Bangladesh).

[citation needed] In June 2022, heavy floods in Assam affected the residents of Bongaigaon.

The town is situated 200 km west of the State Capital and has an important place in the communication network of Assam and wider northeast India.

The New Bongaigaon railway station is a major hub connecting Assam with the rest of India.

This connectivity and the strategic location of the town in the region has made it an important center in trade and commerce in Western Assam, serving a vast hinterland.