新石器時(shi)代，佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)先(xian)民就以漁耕和(he)制陶開創原(yuan)(yuan)始文明(ming)。佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)(shi)區(qu)(qu)(qu)域(yu)在先(xian)秦時(shi)期屬(shu)(shu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)越。秦漢(han)時(shi)期，佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)(shi)區(qu)(qu)(qu)域(yu)主要屬(shu)(shu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海郡(jun)番禺縣(xian)(xian)，隋(sui)朝(chao)后至明(ming)朝(chao)主要屬(shu)(shu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海縣(xian)(xian)（隋(sui)撤南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海郡(jun)，以原(yuan)(yuan)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海郡(jun)治番禺縣(xian)(xian)改置南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海縣(xian)(xian)）。明(ming)朝(chao)后佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)(shi)區(qu)(qu)(qu)域(yu)分屬(shu)(shu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海縣(xian)(xian)，順德縣(xian)(xian)，三水縣(xian)(xian)，高明(ming)縣(xian)(xian)，其(qi)中(zhong)市(shi)(shi)(shi)中(zhong)心為(wei)天下四大聚之一(yi)、四大名(ming)鎮(zhen)之一(yi)、也(ye)是南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)海縣(xian)(xian)內(nei)一(yi)大重鎮(zhen)。1970年(nian)(nian)，佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)改為(wei)縣(xian)(xian)級市(shi)(shi)(shi)，由(you)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)地區(qu)(qu)(qu)領導(dao)。1983年(nian)(nian)6月1日，撤銷佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)地區(qu)(qu)(qu)，原(yuan)(yuan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)地區(qu)(qu)(qu)與佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)(shi)合并(bing)為(wei)現(xian)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)(shi)，實行市(shi)(shi)(shi)領導(dao)縣(xian)(xian)體制。

截至(zhi)2021年12月31日，佛(fo)山(shan)市(shi)轄5個市(shi)轄區(qu)：禪(chan)城(cheng)區(qu)、南海區(qu)、順(shun)德區(qu)、三水區(qu)、高明區(qu)。