The history of Khawzawl is deeply intertwined with the broader history of the Mizo people and the eastern highlands of present-day Mizoram. Before the arrival of the British in the late 19th century, the area was governed by traditional Mizo chiefs who presided over autonomous villages. The landscape saw several intra-tribal skirmishes and shifting village settlements, which was typical of the pre-colonial Mizo way of life.
During the British expeditions (often referred to locally as the "Lushai Expeditions") in the 1880s and 1890s, the region was gradually brought under colonial administration. Khawzawl developed from a small settlement into a more permanent village due to its strategic location along the trade and communication routes established by the administration.
Following India's independence in 1947, the region became part of the Lushai Hills district in Assam, eventually becoming the Union Territory and later the State of Mizoram. Khawzawl witnessed the turbulent years of the Mizo National Front (MNF) uprising (1966–1986), during which many villages were grouped and relocated. Following the 1986 Mizoram Peace Accord, the town experienced steady economic and infrastructural development. A historic milestone was achieved in August 2019, when the Government of Mizoram formally recognized Khawzawl as a newly created district, cementing its status as an administrative center.
