The Jász people, a tribe of Iranian descent, settled the area in the 13th century, and were largely self-governing in the region that formed with Jászberény as its cultural and political centre.
While governed by the Habsburgs, along with the rest of Hungary, Jászberény had to pay high taxes to Austria. The people of the city banded together to buy their independence, an event locally referred to as the 'Act of Redemption'.
In the 1950s, various industrial firms chose to settle in Jászberény which had been very much an agricultural community up to this point. This development resulted in an increase in the number and type of jobs available and brought increased prosperity to the inhabitants of Jászberény. Despite the economic difficulties of recent years, Jászberény has continued to grow and has been able to invest in the necessary infrastructure. At the same time, more and more firms have chosen Jászberény as a centre for their operations. However, Jászberény not only values economic growth but has also developed into a cultural centre of national renown.
Jászberény is rumoured to be the burial place of Attila the Hun
