Dabu County has a long history of human settlement.

The county was established in 413 in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Dabu was under the administration of Jieyang County.

[2] 70% of Singapore's 300,000-strong Hakka community are descended from emigrants from Dabu County, including the great-grandfather of Singapore's founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Dabu County has jurisdiction over the following towns: The administrative center of the county was originally in the ancient town of Chayang before moving to Huliao.[when?]