Tamura has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

After the Meiji Restoration, the area was organized as part of Tamura District in Iwaki Province.

The villages of Miyakoji, Tokiwa, Katasone, Takine, and Ōgoe were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

[7][8][9] [10] Tamura has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.

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