Numata Town was created within Tone District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration.

On March 1, 1954, Numata merged with neighboring Tonami, Ikeda, Usune and Kawada villages, and was raised to city status.

[6] Numata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Gunma 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Numata is a regional commercial center and transportation hub, but was traditionally known for lumber production.