Jõgeva was first mentioned in 1599 as Jagiwa manor, being established only recently on the lands of the same named village by the orders of the Polish king.

The owner of Jõgeva manor, Ernst Gotthard von Manteuffel (1844–1922), started renting out land around the railway station in 1903.

During the Soviet occupation of Estonia Jõgeva became an important administrative center with several big industries.

Jõgeva is situated on the right shore of Pedja River which flows through the city from north to south.

The major cities Tartu and Tallinn are respectively 51 and 154 kilometres (96 miles) from Jõgeva, both connected through railway as well as through highways.