The City covers the urban locality of Mount Isa, the administrative centre, and surrounding area, sharing a boundary with the Northern Territory to the west.

The largest industry in the city is the Mount Isa Mines, a source of lead, copper, silver and zinc.

[1] The city was inhabited by the Kalkadoon and Indjilandji people, whose livelihood depended on hunting and gathering, fishing and trade for several thousands of years, before the European settlers arrived here.

The Kalkadoon craftsmen were known for their stone implements and handmade tools which were traded with other Aboriginal groups spread all over the western Queensland.

The Kalkatunga language region is North-West Queensland including the local government areas of the City of Mount Isa.