It was founded by the moscow knayz Yuriy Vsevolodovich in 1221.
In 1311 moscow knyaz Yuriy Daniilovich has captured Nizhniy Novgod and enthroned his brother Boris. In 1341 the town became the capical of Nizhegorod region. In the east its border was going along the Sura river, in the south-east and south along the P'yana and Serezha rivers. In the west along the right bank of Oka to Murom, then through the lower of Klyazma.
The main base station in the east was fortress Kurmysh erected in 1372. In 1377 the hordians there was a fight between hordian prince Arapshi on the P'yana river, russian troops suffered a defeat. Dmitriy Suzdalskiy run away and Nizhniy Novgorod was burnt. In 1392 Vasiliy I joined the Nizhegorod princedom to Moscow one. Vasiliy III has bought label for Nizhegorod princedom in Horde. 
Nizhniy Novgorod was devastated by Edigey in 1408. In 1817 Makar'ev fayre there was moved to the village Kunavino. Since that times its name is Nizhegorod Fayre. 
Thanks to this fayre the economical development of town leapt forward. In 1847 there appeared a water pipe. After two years in the village Sormov was founded an industrial factory, later it was known as Sormov Factory. From 1850 it produced river ships, adopted new types of productions: various engines, railway railcars, trains, trams.
In 1862 there was finished the construction of railway Moscow- Nizhniy Novgorod. In 1904 there was counstructed branch to the town of Moscow-Kazan rail way from Arzamas. In 1896 town has taken All-Russian commercial and industrial exhibition.There were demonstrated the first in the world radio by A.S. Popov and hyperboloidal tower and stale netted covering by V.G. Shukhov.
After the Great October Revolution there was settled Soviet authority in 1917. In 1919 Kunavino and Sormovo got the status of towns. In 1929 Kunavino and Sormovo entered the Nizhegorod region. This year the old division into provinces was abolished. Nizhniy Novgorod became the centre of Nizhegorod region ( before it was the centre of Gor'kiy region)
On the 7th of October 1932 the town was renamed in Gor'kiy because of 40 years of anniversary of social and work activity of Maksim Gor'kiy. In 1933 Gor'kiy region has widen. There was set the bridge between right and lest banks of Oka. There was a railway bridge through Volga. 
The 30's of the 20th century is the time of great industial development in Nizhniy Novgorod. In 1932 was opened the large industrial factory — Gor'kiy automobile factory.
In 1991 to Nizhniy Novgorod was given back its name.
