Surin is world-famous for the Elephant Roundup and for its many Khmer sanctuaries, wide variety of handicrafts, its silk, its rich cultures and its first ruler, Phraya Surin Phakdi Si Narong Wang, from whom the town got its name. Phra Surin, a member of the Suay tribe, became leader in 1760 when he was instrumental in recapturing an escaped royal white elephant, as legend goes.

The province is separated from neighboring Cambodia by the Banthat Mountains. During the 1970s, the period of Khmer Rouge terrorization, thousands of Cambodian refugees crossed into Surin and took up residence alongside already established Laotian refugees, Thais, and Suay tribespeople. Though many refugees have been repatriated, some opted to remain.

Surin is 457 kilometres from Bangkok and has an area of 8,124 square kilometres. It is divided into the following districts: Muang, Chumphon Buri, Tha Tum, Chom Phra, Prasat, Kap Choeng, Rattanaburi, Sanom, Si Khoraphum, Sangkha, Samrong Thap, Buachet, Lamduan, Si Narong, Phanom Dong Rak, Khwao Sinarin and Non Narai.