After the Meiji Restoration, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, it became part of Minamitsugaru District, Aomori.

The city of Hirakawa was established on January 1, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Hiraka and Onoe, and the village of Ikarigaseki.

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Hirakawa has decreased steadily over the past 60 years.

Hirakawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.