The area come under the control of the imperial dynasty during the early Heian period under the campaigns of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, and was part of ancient Mutsu Province.

It eventually came under the control of the Nambu clan, who ruled from Morioka Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate.

In the Meiji period, the villages of Shizukuishi, Gosho, Nishiyama and Omyojin within Minami-Iwate District were created on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

On April 1, 1955, Shizukuishi merged with Gosho, Nishiyama and Omyojin, but lost a portion of its territory in a border adjustment with Morioka City on October 1 of the same year.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Koiwai Farm, based in Takizawa, is currently the largest privately owned dairy production center in Japan.