Unlike Nishi-Maizuru, which thrived as a castle town, Higashi-Maizuru developed with a naval and army base since the establishment of Maizuru Chinju-fu, Maizuru army and navy bases in 1901.
又、城下町として栄えた西舞鶴と違い、1901年に舞鶴鎮守府が設置され、軍港として発展した。