Jonava is a relatively young city that began to take shape only in the first half of the 18th century. The city was founded by the Kosakovskiai nobility. In 1750, Augustus III granted Marijona Zabielaite-Kosakovska the privilege "to establish the town of Jonava, allow markets and fairs, and accommodate free people of various religions, i.e., Christians, Tatars, Jews..." The name of the town was given in honor of Marijona"s deceased husband, Dominykas Kosakovskis" father, Jonas.

Situated at the convenient crossroads of main roads leading to Vilnius, Kaunas, Ukmergė, and Kėdainiai, Jonava became known for trade in grains and other food products, hosting large fairs. Boats and other goods were transported on the Neris River through Jonava. The construction of the St. Petersburg-Warsaw postal road crossing Jonava facilitated the constant flow of mail, various cargoes, and distinguished guests. The horse-drawn transport and related crafts and businesses flourished in Jonava. With the advent of the railway in the second half of the 19th century, trade in the town intensified even further.

Therefore, Jonava has always been renowned as a trading town, while its image as an industrial city emerged only during the Soviet era, with the establishment of a nitrogen fertilizer plant nearby. Following the restoration of Lithuania"s independence, it grew into the largest Lithuanian-owned business. Today, Jonava is a significant industrial, particularly chemical, and transportation center, intersected by the Kaunas-Daugavpils highway and major railway lines from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda.

Although heavily damaged during World War II, Jonava lacks an abundance of cultural heritage. The spirit of the old commercial town can still be felt today on Kauno Street, while the tranquility of the pre-war town is present along Sodų Street leading towards the Varnutės ponds. In the crypts of the three-century-old church, the famous Napoleon"s adjutant, Joseph Anthony Kosakovski, who successfully accompanied him during campaigns against the Russian Empire, rests.

Currently, there is significant attention given to improving the city"s infrastructure: houses are being renovated, streets are being arranged, new bicycle paths are being laid, with a total length of 25 km in the city, recreational areas in the city are being renovated, and leisure and entertainment spaces are being created. In 2015, a skiing center was opened in Jonava, and the main city celebration venue, Joninės Valley, was reconstructed. Near Jonava, in the village of Lokėnėliai, the first extreme sensations adventure park in Lithuania, "Lokės pėda," is in operation. Jonava is acquiring a modern city image that is comfortable to live in and pleasant to visit.