 Like some other main towns of Malappuram and Kozhikode, The economy is mostly a money-order economy with the main source of money from expatriates in the Middle East.Edappal panchayat

Edapal got its name from the word "Edappalayam," meaning intermediate camp, because Edapal was the intermediate resting place for the army of Zamorins on their journeys to conquer South Kerala.The first notable public institution in Edapal was the Government High School (now higher secondary school).