The district was formed during the period of the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad State – Nawab Mir Mahbub Ali Khan and hence named after him.

[4] The name was changed to Mahabubnagar on 4 December 1890, in honour of Mir Mahbub Ali Khan Asaf Jah VI, the Nizam of Hyderabad (1869–1911 AD).

Mahabubnagar district is spread over an area of 2,737.00 square kilometres (1,056.76 sq mi).

Mahbubnagar district has a sex ratio of 987 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 63.35%.

[7] The oldest terracotta style Jain temple is in Alvanpalli village of Mahabubnagar district.

This temple is one of the two such structures in India other built during Gupta period is located at Bhitargaon under Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

[9] In 2006, the Indian government named Mahabubnagar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of 640 total).