Under its old name of Haripunchai, Lamphun was the northernmost city of the Mon kingdom of the Dvaravati period,[7] and also the last to fall to the Thai.

However, in 1281 King Mengrai of Lan Na finally seized the city, and made it part of his kingdom.

In the 18th century, with the rise of Thonburi and Bangkok against Burmese rule, local leaders from Lampang agreed to be their allies.

Lamphun was finally freed from the Burmese and ruled by relatives of Lampang's leader, gaining vassal status from Bangkok.

As of 26 November 2019 there are:[11] one Lamphun Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 40 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province.

The non-municipal areas are administered by 17 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).