Along the way they came to a jungle where spirits dwelt, and seeing that it was a good place, they built a village there next to the grounds of an abandoned wat.

The wat, which had been deserted with dense jungle blocking the way to the river landing, was re-built and renamed after the new village.

In 1814, King Rama II renamed Ban Singh Tha to Yasothon and raised its status to mueang.

Yasothon was the national winner of the World Wildlife Fund's 2018 "One Planet City Challenge".

[2][3][4] Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Sai Mun, Kut Chum, Pa Tio and Kham Khuean Kaeo of Yasothon Province; Phanom Phrai and Selaphum of Roi Et province.