It was founded in 1935 as the settlement of Voroshilovsky () serving a pulp and paper mill. It was granted urban-type settlement status in 1941, renamed Pervomaysky in 1958, and was granted town status in 1977, at which time it also got its present name. Simultaneously, Novodvinsk was removed from Primorsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast and became the town of oblast significance.
