It is the administrative center of Yirgachefe woreda (or district), an important coffee growing area.
Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Irgachefe has an estimated total population of 20,979 of whom 10,501 were men and 10,478 were women.
Irgachefe was part of the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II.
However, the road further north was so bad that it took ten days to travel 80 kilometres (50 mi), making the transport of supplies almost impossible.
As a result, two battalions returned to Yabelo with the motor transport vehicles, while one battalion continued the advance northward carrying the ammunition and food supplies by foot and mule pack.