Anambra was created on 27 August 1991.
However, old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. In 1991 a re-organisation divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu.
Anambra got its name from the Omambala River, a river that runs through the state. Anambra is the Anglicized name of the Omambala.