the region was settled by the meshchera tribe during the middle ages. the village of gorbatovo () was first documented in 1565 as a "votchina" of prince alexander gorbaty-shuysky after whom it takes its name. its growth was owing to the manufacture of ropes and cherry cultivation. in 1779, gorbatovo was merged with meshchera "sloboda" and chartered as a town. modern gorbatov is one of russia's smallest towns.