 It was founded as a fort on the Kolyma River in 1644.On May 20, 1931, Nizhnekolymsk became the administrative center of Nizhnekolymsky District, but in 1942, due to constant flooding, the administrative center was transferred to Nizhniye Kresty.Nizhekolymsk had mostly been abandoned by 1968, although a small number of people continued to reside there.