It is located in western part of the historic region of Slavonia, between Kutina and Nova Gradiška, 94 km (58 mi) linear distance southeast of the capital, Zagreb.

[citation needed] Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.

[7] Before 1881, Novska was part of the Austrian monarchy (Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia after the compromise of 1867), in the Slavonian Military Frontier, Gradiskaner Regiment N°VIII.

During the Croatian War of Independence two separate mass murders of Serb civilians took place in the town.

In the first case, Croatian Army soldier Damir Vida Raguž was found guilty of war crimes in a first-instance verdict and sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the other accused, Željko Škledar was acquitted.