The history of Mon is inextricably linked to the Konyak Naga tribe. For centuries, the region operated as a collection of fiercely independent villages ruled by hereditary chiefs known as Anghs. The Konyaks practiced animism and were renowned for their martial prowess and the tradition of headhunting, which was a deeply spiritual and social practice related to fertility and community protection.
During the British colonial era in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Naga Hills were gradually mapped, but the area that is now Mon remained largely unadministered and was designated as a "Tribal Area." True administrative integration began post-Indian independence.
The mid-to-late 20th century brought profound changes. Christian missionaries, primarily Baptists, introduced Christianity, which led to a widespread cultural shift and the cessation of headhunting by the late 1960s. Education and modern administration followed. On December 21, 1973, Mon District was officially carved out of the Tuensang District, with Mon town established as its administrative headquarters, setting the stage for its modern development.
