Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Hashimoto peaked at around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.

Located in the middle reaches of the Kinokawa River, it once prospered as a post town for timber transportation and for pilgrims heading to Mount Kōya.

The village of Hashimoto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, and was raised to town status on May 10, 1894.

Hashimoto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of eighteen members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Wakayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.