Kashiwazaki has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

The area of present-day Kashiwazaki was part of ancient Echigo Province and developed as a post station on the Hokuriku-dō highway.

During the Meiji period, the discovery of petroleum in the area led to an economic boom and increase in population.

[6][7] On July 16, 2007, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Kashiwazaki, killing 11 people,[8] and injuring more than 700, causing massive power outages, a tsunami warning, and other disasters.

[9][10] Kashiwazaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

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