[3] Nasarawa town is home to tertiary institutions such as: The area's economic activity centers on the tin and columbite mining industry and farming.

[4] Nasarawa is a market center for the melon, yams, sorghum, millet, soybeans, shea nuts, and cotton grown in the surrounding area.

It is located at the intersection of local roads that lead to Keffi and the Benue River ports of Loko.

Nasarawa was founded in 1835 in the Eloyi (Afo) tribal territory by Umaru, a dissident official from the nearby town of Keffi, who hailed from Ruma in Katsina State, as the seat of the new emirate of Nassarawa.

Umaru expanded his domain by conquering neighboring territory and made Nassarawa a vassal state to Zaria (175 miles [282 km] north).