The southern portion of the city has a complex terrain with several rivers and alternating ridges and valleys orientated east to west.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Yonezawa has recently declined after a long period of stability.

The area of present-day Yonezawa was part of ancient Dewa Province and was controlled in the Sengoku period by the Date clan.

During the Edo period, the area became Yonezawa Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate, ruled by the Uesugi clan.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 3 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.