A sub-drosdy, under the jurisdiction of the magistrate of Graaff-Reinet was established at Cradock on 10 July 1812. On 11 March 1825 the sub-drosdy was abolished and Cradock became part of the district of Somerset. Cradock fell under the jurisdiction of the magistrate at Somerset East until 8 February 1837 when a magistrate's court was established there.

The magistrate acted as chairman of the matrimonial court, as justice and clerk of the peace and registrar of births and deaths. He also was in charge of slave matters.

The Municipality of Cradock was constituted 15 September 1837 under provision of Ordinance No 9 of 1836.

In 1994 Cradock became part of the Eastern Cape Province. It forms part of the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, one of six local municipalities that falls under the Chris Hani District Municipality.