The state was founded sometime in the 11th century BC by Shu Zhenduo of Cao [zh] (d. 1053 BC), a son of King Wen of Zhou and younger brother of King Wu of Zhou.
With its capital at Taoqiu (陶丘), the State of Cao covered roughly the area of modern-day Dingtao County, Shandong Province.
As a result of the Cao's relative weakness, later generations wrote few records on events concerning the state's history.
The only major event recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046 – 770 BC) was in 826 BC when Count You of Cao was killed by his younger brother Count Dai of Cao.
[1] At the beginning of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 BC), the State of Cao suffered internal upheaval.