[citation needed] Formerly known as "Yeoti" or "Yeotmal", Yavatmal was the main town of the Berar Sultanate and according to old writings "the safest place in the world".

In 1596, Chand Bibi, warrior queen of Ahmadnagar, ceded the district of Yavatmal to the Mughal Empire, then rulers of a large part of India.

[citation needed] The mini-train called Shakuntala is a historic remark built by the British government to transport cotton which is now closed.

Festivals like Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Dussehra, Christmas, Easter Sunday and almost all Hindu and Christian occasions are celebrated.

Both cotton-ginning and pressing are carried on in Yavatmal, while the town is also the chief trading center in the district and connected by road with Dhamangaon station, 29 miles (47 km) away.

Major business establishments in Yavatmal include the Raymond UCO mill that produces denim fabrics for jeans.

There is a 106-acre (0.43 km2) textile Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under construction while HLL Unilever has also decided to restart the plant they currently have in the city.

Banking services are available in the Yavatmal, Arni, Ner, Pusad, Digras, Ghatanji and Kelapur(Pandharkawada) and Wani areas.

The major industrial centres are at: MIDC Lohara, Darwha, Digras, Pusad, Umerkhed, Wani, Umari, Kelapur, Ralegaon and Babhulgaon, Ner, and Wani-Maregaon with the main market places in: Yavatmal City, Arni, Wani, Darwha, Digras, Ghatanji, Mohada, Pusad, Umerkhed and Kelapur.