With a total area of 97.96 square kilometers (61.23 square miles), Ota city is 12.21 kilometers wide (7.63 miles) north to south and 15.40kilometers long (9.63 miles) east to west. The city limits have a circumference of 59.60 kilometers (37.25 miles).
　To the east, the Watarase river runs between Ota and Ashikaga City, Tochigi prefecture. To the south the Tone river is the boundary between Ota and Menuma town, Saitama prefecture through which one can pass to Kumuagaya city and on to Tokyo. To the north lies Kiryu City with which the city of Ota maintains a good relationship.
　The elevation of Ota City is on average 30 to 40 meters (98 to 131 feet) above sea level. In the center of the city lies Kanayama. At 235.8 meters (773.62 feet) above sea level, this mountain is the symbol of Ota City.
　In terms of climate, the average annual temperature is a relatively mild 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). On average there are 200 hundred days of clear weather per year. Throughout the four seasons, clear weather prevails. During the winter, there are usually only 2 or 3 days of snow, however there are many days when a strong, dry wind (known as the Joushuu Kara Kaze) blows out of the north-west.

　Although the Japanese people of today are thought of as being all of a single, relatively unique race, these islands were originally peopled by successive waves of migration, probably initially coming across a land bridge that once connected Japan with the continent of Asia. Fossilized bones of humans have been found in parts of Japan, including parts of Gunma, dating back as far as 200,000 years ago. Stone age implements unearthed in the Ota area provide evidence that people were living in this very region as early as 15,000 years ago. Pottery from the Jomon era (7000- 250 BC) and the Yayoi era (250 BC - 300 AD) has also been found in the area suggesting that the area has been continuously inhabited throughout.
　Some of the eastern Japan’s grandest Kofun - huge burial mounds erected for rich powerful families during the Yamato period (300 - 645 AD) - have been found in the area. Tenjin Yama, a burial mound that lies within the city limits, is an excellent example.

　Haniwa are often found in connection with burial mounds. Haniwa are earthenware figures shaped to resemble warriors and horses that were placed on the slope of a burial mound to act as guardians. The Haniwa unearthed in Ota are the only Haniwa to be designated as national treasures, and are on display in the National Museum in Tokyo.

　From the closing years of the Nara period (710- 784) to the early days of the Heian Period (794 - 1185),this area served as a staging area, providing food, weapons and manpower for wars against the Ezo people who inhabited the northern part Japan.
　During Japan’s middle ages, a local family rose to prominence whose descendantswould later play leading role in some of the most interesting drama in Japanese history.Yoshishige Nitta was the founder of the powerful Nitta family. Near the end of theKamakura period (1185-1333), all real power in Japan lay in the hands of the Shogun.There has always been an Emperor, but much of the time in Japanese history, theEmperor has been a mere figurehead.
　Such was the case during the reign of the Emperor Go-Daigo. Unhappy with his role as a figurehead, he decided to try to wrest power from the hands of the Shogunate. He began a small revolt in 1331. The revolt was a failure, and Go-Daigo was deposed and exiled. A new Emperor was named from a different line of the royal family. From his place in exile Go-Daigo was able to rally support to his cause. Among his local supporters were Takauji Ashikaga and Yoshisada Nitta, eighth head of the Nitta family.
　In 1332 Go-Daigo escaped from exile to lead and all out revolt. Takauji Ashikaga captured Kyoto, the imperial capital and helped Go-Daigo return to the throne. Meanwhile, Yoshisada Nitta captured Kamakura and destroyed the Shogun. There were still two Emperors, and the battle for supremacy carried on for the next sixty years. This period in Japanese history is known as the North South Dynasty period. Eventually, Ashikaga was alienated by Go-Daigo’s proposed reforms. He recaptured Kyoto causing Go-Daigo to flee. Two years later, Takauji Ashikaga established the Ashikaga Shogunate.

　Iezumi Iwamatsu was another prominent local figure. His father was an Ashikaga and his mother was from the Nitta family. Mr. Iwamatsu was responsible for the rebuilding of Kanayama castle and he ruled a large part of Ota. During the turbulent years of the North and South Dynasties, he managed to hold onto his power by changing his allegiance between the warring parties depending upon which side appeared to have to the upper hand. He was eventually betrayed by one of his retainers, Mr. Yokoze, who assumed control of Kanayama castle and much of Ota, changing his name to Yura. He was later defeated and expelled from Kanayama castle by the powerful Hojo family. When the Hojo fell from power, the Kanayama castle was reduced to ruins.
　At the beginning of the Edo period, which ran from 1600- 1868, Ieyasu Tokugawa and his supporters defeated the forces of the previous Shogun in a pivotal battle, and soon after that he became Shogun. In Ota he commissioned the building on Daikoin Temple at the foot of Kanayama. The temple was built to honor and enshrine the spirit of Yoshishige Nifla. Tokugawa persuaded the then famous monk Donryu to act as founder and first head priest of Daikoin. Donryu was well known for his compassion for children, and the temple soon became a place where they took a keen interest in the education and welfare of the local children. Today peeple still go to Daikoin Temple (often called Donryusama locally) to pray for health and prosperity for their children.
　After the death of Ieyasu Tokugawa, his spirit was enshrined at Toushogu Temple in Nikko. It soon became traditional for the Shogun and all of the nation’s important regional leaders to make an annual pilgrimage to Nikko. Those traveling from many parts of Japan passed through Ota on the road to Nikko. Ota enjoyed a boost in prosperity and prestige as a stop over point on the road to Nikko.
　Hikokuro Takayama was a prominent and eccentric figure from the Edo period. A citizen of Ota, he traveled all over the country. His acquaintances ranged from court nobles to powerful samurai to rich merchants to lowly farmers. He traveled the country learning, teaching and preaching reverence for the Emperor.
　With the end of the Edo period and the Shogunate, the annual pilgrimages to Nikko came to an end. Ota’s brush with fame and national influence ended, too.
　In the sixth year of the Taisho Period-1918-Ota became the site of the building of Japan’s first passenger airplane. Starting in 1932 and lasting through World War II, the Nakajima airplane factory of Ota turned out airplanes. After the war the Nakajima factory converted to the manufacture of automobiles and became Fuji Heavy Industries, makers of the world famous Subaru line of automobiles.

　In acensus conducted in 1948, the population of this city stood at 50,282 making Ota was the fifth largest city in Gunma prefecture. At about that time, Ota began to annex some of the surrounding villages, making them a part of the city. The pace of this expansion increased around 1955 due to national legislation aimed at consolidating many of the country’s small towns and villages into larger units.
　For Ota this legislation led to a rapid succession of mergers over the next ten years. In April of 1957,the villages of Godo and Kyuuhaku became a part of the city, followed by Yabakawa village in July of 1960, Housen village in April of 1963 and Morita village in December of that same year. By the end of this flurry of mergers, Ota had increased in area to the current 97.96 square kilometers.
　In 1965Ota had 87,898 residents living in 19,486 households. By 1975 that number had increased to 110,728 in 29,085 households. In 1985 the population of Ota was 133,670 people sharing 40,273 households making the city third in the prefecture after the nearby cities of Maebashi and Takasaki.
　The tendency for rapid population increase in the city has slacked off slightly in recent years, and as of October 1, 2000 the population stood at 147,897.
　Foreign residents make up a rather large portion of Ota’s population. Immigration laws were revised in 1990 leading to an increase in the number of registered foreign residents living and working in the city. As of April, 2001 that number stood at 7,303 accounting for more than 5% of the total population.

　During the years before World War II, airplane production was the industrial mainstay of Ota. After the war, much of the skills and technology used in the production of aircraft was redirected into the production of automobiles. The years between 1955 and 1965 brought vigorous economic growth to the area. During that time many of the local factories were built as well as and much of the public housing needed to accommodate the growing work force.
　With an annual industrial output exceeding 1.3 trillion yen, Ota ranks first in Gunma prefecture and is on a par with large industrial cities on the northern Kanto area such as Hitachi city and Utsunomiya city. There are 677 incorporated cities in Japan. Only 49 of those cities enjoy an industrial output of more than 1 trillion yen. Of those 49, only 8 have a population as small as or smaller than Ota.
　Machinery, metal products and textiles account for more than 46% of the total industrial output. In terms of employment, 40% of the work force are employed in the transportation industry followed by 12.3% in machinery and 11.3% in the electronics.

　In terms of agriculture, rice is the main crop grown in the area. There are some farms that specialize in the cultivation of fruit, flowers and vegetables. In particular spinach and strawberries grown in this area are predominant in the marketplace.
　An organization has been established to help promote and modernize local farms. The Nouson Kankyo Kaizen Center (Farming Community Environmental Improvement Center) has been established to promote and improve current farming techniques. The center seeks to improve farm output through automation and the improvement of old farm infrastructure, such as irrigation and drainage systems. The center also is dedicated to promoting public awareness of farming through gardening classes available to area residents.
　In retails sales, there are several main shopping districts throughout the city. Ota retailers enjoy a combined total of about 790 billion yen in annual sales making the city third in the prefecture in terms of retails sales. Work will soon begin on a 250,000 square meter business area that will be home to 57 individual enterprises. Known as the Ota Ryuutsu center, it will set the standard for a new era of doing business in Ota.
　Ota also has many historical sites that attract tourists from all over Japan. Rich, green Kanayama, Daikoin Temple and Kinryuu Temple are just a few of the local places that served as backdrops to the area’s colorful history.

　Education is of vital importance to the people of Ota. There are 16 kindergarten/daycare centers, 18 elementary schools, 11 junior high schools and 2 schools for children with learning disabilities. There are also 7 high schools; 1 municipal, 5 prefectural and 1 private. Ota is also home to Kanto Gakuen College (Kanto Teachers College). 90% of all preschool age children in the city receive some kind of preschooling before entering the school system. The city has an abundance of facilities available to help youngsters begin their education, and help is available with the expense involved in entering kindergarten. It is the goal of city educators to stay in close touch with the needs of the population to provide a high level of education for the area students.

　Ota city is also deeply committed to the promotion of life long learning for all citizens through a variety of programs. There are about 200 cultural organizations and about 800 sports related clubs in the city. Classes and activities are offered through all of the city’s community centers. Other facilities for the promotion of culture, recreation and education include; the General Society Education Center, Tomo Cultural Education Center, Sports Park and Kanayama Camp Ground.