Al-Lagia is a Bedouin town established by the State during the 1970s, in the location hat served for many years in the past as a rural center for the Bedouin population. The large ancient cemetery, the stone structures and water cisterns are evidence to that. With the establishment of the State of Israel, most of the population was expelled beyond the armistice line with Jordan by the military regime, and was then returned to Israel to the Tel Arad area.

In 1975, an agreement was reached between the tribe of As-Sana, the State, and most of the population living in Al-Lagia. The development of the town came to a halt in the late 1970s at the order of the authorities and was only renewed in 1990 as part of the Shoket Regional Council. By 1996 it was declared a local council. Today, Al-Lagia has 12,000 residents and is ranked in the lowest cluster of the socio-economic ranking of localities.

The town has eight primary and secondary schools, 40 kindergartens and one community center. Al-Lagia has seven clinics and medical centers. The various services provided by the town to its residents also serve the residents of the nearby unrecognized Bedouin villages.