The town was originally called 'Vangalaprolu', 'Vangavolu' and 'Vangolu' after the astrologer bearing the surname 'Vangolu' in the court of the Addanki kings. The earliest reference to this place is found in the inscriptions of the Pallava rulers, Vijayaskandavarma and Simhavarman, whose period of rule was assigned to the last quarter of the 3rd and the first quarter of the 4th centuries AD.
Ongole is a good business centre. Food and other items like Butter, Ghee, Cigar, Cereals, Pulses, Groundnut, and Pepper etc are being exported from here to different parts of the country. Bullocks from Ongole known as "Ongole Gitta" are renowned in the state. It is a prestige to have Ongole Bullocks in one's flock of cattle.
