Yoshkar-Ola was established as a military fortress in 1584, following the Russian conquest of the Mari-inhabited regions of the Volga and its tributaries.

During the Soviet era, especially after World War II, the city was a regional industrial and transport center and grew to its current size.

The collapse of the Soviet Union removed support for state enterprises, and led to the shutdown of most manufacturing activity in the area.

Much of the city's economic activity was supported by shuttle traders who would transport (often counterfeit) goods from the bustling markets of Moscow to Yoshkar-Ola's bazaars.

On the other hand, the city enjoys very warm summers, marred by only occasional, brief intervals of sultry or rainy conditions with July as the hottest month, when the average high is +25 °C (77 °F), and temperatures may stay around +35 °C (95 °F) for weeks.According to the 2021 Census, Yoshkar-Ola has a population of 281,248 people, making it the 71st largest city in Russia.

Additionally, Yoshkar-Ola has many private educational centers offering different qualifications and trainings in such disciplines as foreign languages, computer science and many others.