Akita Prefecture Iwate Prefecture Semboku has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.

During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who had been relocated to Kubota Domain from their former holdings in Hitachi Province.

After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Semboku District, Akita Prefecture in 1878.

Semboku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Akita 3rd District of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.