The name of the area comes from the Date clan, who rose to power in the 12th century in Fukushima, on the mainland.

In 1869, a branch family of the Date clan from Watari-Date moved to and settled at the south coast of the then-uncultivated Hokkaido.

Date is home to Mount Usu (702 metres (2,303 ft)) and the Osaru River.

Otaki Forest is home to Sankaidaki Falls and the Shirakinu River Bed.

Date Historic City contains buildings that were built by the samurai, the most famous of which is the Usu-Zenkou temple.