Bougouni was established as a quarantine area for surrounding villages, but gradually developed independently.

Bougouni held an important set of colonial archives which were lost in a fire during the March 1991 uprising against President Moussa Traoré.

[2] Bougouni, like many cities of Mali, enjoys sufficient rainfall for regular farming.

Cotton is produced in the region around the town, making it a center for processing and transport.

The Cercle of Bougouni includes the communes of Bladié-Tiemela, Bougouni, Chantoula, Danou, Debelin, Defina, Dogo, Domba, Faradielé, Faragouaran, Garolo, Keleya, Kokelé, Kola, Koumantou, Kouroulamini, Meridiela, Ouroun, Sanso, Sibirila, Sido, Tiémala-Banimonotié, Wola, Yinindougou, Yiridougou and Zantiebougou, for a total population of 251,987.