[2] Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iwate has steadily declined over the past 60 years.

It was under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Numakunai, Kawaguchi, Ikkatai and Midō villages were created within Kita-Iwate District on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipality system.

[4] Iwate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members.

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