The former name of the city was Alabuga. Its history dates back to the 10th century, when a Volga Bulgar border castle, the so-called Alamir-Sultan castle was built by Bulgar Khan Ibrahim in 985 CE. The castle was built on the place of the legendary tomb of Alamir-Sultan (Alexander the Great "Macedonian")[vague]. The name 'Alabuga' originally referred to the tower of the castle, later the whole city was named Alabuga. The castle was later abandoned, and its remains are now known as Shaytan kalasy (Shaytan's castle). In the second half of the 16th century, a Russian village was founded on the same spot.[citation needed]
In April 2024 it was reported that drone strikes, claimed to be from Ukraine, had injured 12 people in the town where drones are produced.[11]
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, shortcomings in the equipment of the Russian forces with drones became apparent, and a factory for the production of different drone types was built in Yelabuga. Based on satellite imagery, the facilities covered the size of ten football fields in late 2023. Some 6000 drones per year, including the Geran 2, are supposed to be built in Yelabuga for the Russian Army.[15]
The town is the birthplace of painterIvan Shishkin. Nadezhda Durova, who, disguised as a man, was a highly decorated cavalry officer during the Napoleonic Wars died there in 1866. It is also where the Russian poet Marina Tsvetayeva committed suicide in 1941. The poet is buried at the municipal cemetery.
Министерство юстиции Республики Татарстан. Приказ №01-02/9 от 4 февраля 2014 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц и населённых пунктов в Республике Татарстан», в ред. Приказа №01-02/160 от 11 марта 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Приказ Министерства юстиции Республики Татарстан от 04.02.2014 №01-02/9 "Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц и населённых пунктов в Республике Татарстан"». Опубликован: Официальный сайт правовой информации Министерства юстиции Республики Татарстан (http://pravo.tatarstan.ru), 27 февраля 2014 г. (Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tatarstan. Order #01-02/9 of February 4, 2014 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Inhabited Localities in the Republic of Tatarstan, as amended by the Order #01-02/160 of March 11, 2015 On Amending the Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tatarstan #01-02/9 of February 4, 2014 "On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Inhabited Localities in the Republic of Tatarstan". ).
Государственный Совет Республики Татарстан. Закон №22-ЗРТ от 31 января 2005 г. «Об установлении границ территорий и статусе муниципального образования『Елабужский муниципальный район』и муниципальных образований в его составе», в ред. Закона №145-ЗРТ от 30 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Республики Татарстан "Об установлении границ территорий и статусе муниципального образования『Елабужский муниципальный район』и муниципальных образований в его составе"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Республика Татарстан", №№18–19, 1 февраля 2005 г. (State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan. Law #22-ZRT of January 31, 2005 On Establishing the Borders of the Territories and the Status of the Municipal Formation of "Yelabuzhsky Municipal District" and of the Municipal Formations It Comprises, as amended by the Law #145-ZRT of December 30, 2014 On Amending the Law of the Republic of Tatarstan "On Establishing the Borders of the Territories and the Status of the Municipal Formation of "Yelabuzhsky Municipal District" and of the Municipal Formations It Comprises". Effective as of the official publication date.).