The area the home of the Kii Kuni no miyatsuko, a local king ruling the Kinokawa River Valley prior to the rise of the Yamato State.

After the Meiji restoration, Wakayama was granted city status on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

The city suffered 1208 deaths and 1560 critically wounded in the July 9, 1945 Bombing of Wakayama during World War II, which destroyed more than half of the urban area.

On April 1, 1997, Wakayama attained core city status, with increased local autonomy.

Wakayama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 38 members.

Primary industries include agriculture, notably rice and citrus fruits, and commercial fishing.

[citation needed] Wakayama Prefecture is famous across Japan for its umeboshi (salty pickled plums) and mikan (mandarins).