In 201 BC, the county was built as Xiazhi (下雉); the name "Yangxin" first appeared during the Jin dynasty.

From the Northern and Southern dynasties period, Hubei province became a noteworthy tea-producing area.

In the late Qing dynasty, Yangxin County served as the headquarters for the west march of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The southern part of the county, located in the foothills of the Mufu Mountains, is riddled with many small hills.

The distance from the Yangxin station to Wuchang by rail is 153 km (95 mi) and the typical travel time by train is around two hours.