Prior to the Asuka period, Dewa was inhabited by Ainu or Emishi tribes, and was effectively outside of the control of the imperial dynasty.

Abe no Hirafu conquered the native Emishi tribes at what are now the cities of Akita and Noshiro in 658 and established a fort on the Mogami River.

[3] During the Nara period, under the Engishiki classification system, Dewa was ranked as a "greater country" (上国).

Another major uprising occurred in 939, as part of East Japan war Tengyō no Ran.

In 1335, Shiba Kaneyori received the Dewa Province as a fief from Ashikaga Takauji,[4] but ruled it only in name.

During the Bakumatsu period, all of the domains in the area joined the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei supporting the Tokugawa shogunate.