Forests occupy half of the city's area, and the Amano River runs north–south in the center.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Katano has risen steadily over the past century.

Katano absorbed the neighboring village of Hoshida on April 1, 1955, and was elevated to city status on November 3, 1971.

Katano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Osaka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.