The most prominent group of Turks to settle here were the Dulkadir lords, semi-autonomous barons during the Ottoman era, who ruled Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay for two centuries.

Kadirli was occupied by French forces at the end of the First World War under the terms of the armistice signed by the Ottoman Empire.

Kadirli is a town providing the basic infrastructure, such as shops and schools, to an area of rich farmland, which produces grain and 75% of Turkey's radishes.

In recent times, inhabitants also prefer to spend their summertime at the sea side in Yumurtalık and Mersin during hot season as an alternative of moving to plateau.

[citation needed] In Kadirli, there is a vocational college[5] connected with the Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye.