 Following the Meiji Restoration, the town of Sano was created within Aso District, Tochigi with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889.Sano was elevated to city status on April 1, 1943 when it merged with the neighboring towns of Inubushi and Horigome and the villages of Sakai and Hatagawa.The city annexed the village of Inazuma (from Ashikaga District) on January 1, 1955, followed by the town of Akami(from Aso District) on April 1, 1955.