The town covers the commune (tambon) Tha Taphao completely and parts of tambons Bang Mak, Wang Phai, Na Thung, Tak Daet, and Khun Krathing.

Chumphon volunteers fought invading Japanese during World War II.

It was a station on the Southern Line and connected to the short-lived Kra Isthmus Railway.

[2] Chumphon lies just inland from the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

These hills reach 400 metres (1,300 ft) in the area near Chumphon.