Chungcheongnam-do (called Chungnam) is located in the central part of the peninsula, neighboring Gyeonggi-do onthe north, Chungcheongbuk-do onthe east, and Jeollabuk-do on the south. It borders the west sea on the west.  It also surrounds Daejeon.

Seeing the paleolithic relicsin Seokjang-ri, Janggi-myeon, Gongju (found in 1964) and bronze relics scattered all over the province, it seems that the people of Chungnam  have lived together here since the prehistoric period. In addition, Woljiguk which was a politically leading nation during the Samhan period and was located in the center of Mahan which once existed in Jiksan-myeon, Cheonan. Among the 54 minor states of Mahan, it seemed that 15 states were located in the Chungnam area. During the era of Three Kingdoms, Chungnam was a  territory of the Baekje Dynasty. For 185 years from 475 A.D (when the capital was moved from Hanseong [now called Seoul] to Ungjin [now called Gongju] after Hanseong fell to Goguryeo) to 660 (when the kingdom of Baekje was conquered by the Silla-Dang forces), the glorious Baekje culture bloomed in Chungnam.

During the United Silla Kingdom, Chungnam was called, "Ungjin Dodok-bu, Soburi-ju (Sabi), Ungcheon-bu, and Ung-ju." During the Post-three Kingdoms Period, Chungnam was included in the territory of Post Baekje.

During the Goryeo Dynasty, it was called, "Hanam-do, Yanggwang-do, Chungcheongju-do, and Chungcheong-do."It was united with and separated from Gyeonggi-do off and on.

During Joseon times, Yanggwang-do was split into Chungcheong-do and Gyeonggi-do in 1397 (the 4th year of King Taejo), and Gamyeong was relocated from Chungju to Gongju in 1598 (the 31st year of King Seonjo). Since then, it was called, "Gongcheong-do, Chungcheong-do, Gonghong-do, Chunghong-do, and Gongchung-do." In 1834 (the 34thyear of King Sunjo), it was renamed from Gongcheong-do to Chungcheong-do again. In 1896 (the 33rd year of King Gojong) after the national reorganization into 13 provinces in accordance with the Article 36 of Imperial Command, it was finally called by its present name--Chungcheongnam-do.