Yanco is a Wiradjuri aboriginal language word meaning the sound of running water.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation builds the Roach’s Surge Reservoir near Yanco, holding up to 5 million tonnes of water.

[6] The town has a team in the Group 20 Rugby League competition with neighbouring village Wamoon, the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks.

The club briefly merged with rivals Narrandera from 2012 to 2014 as the Bidgee Hurricanes, but the sides demerged ahead of the 2015 season.

They play at the Yanco Sports Ground, a picturesque oval located across the railway and irrigation channel from the town centre.