During the Edo period the entire area was part of the holdings of Usuki Domain and was ruled by the Inaba clan until the Meiji restoration.

The village of Mie within Ōno District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

[5][6] Bungo-Ōno has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The economy of Bungo-Ōno is overwhelmingly agricultural, although due to ease of access to Ōita city, commuter town developments are growing.

In 2012, the growing deer population began to greatly affect the shiitake mushroom farming industry.