[3][4] It was named for the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human who went to space.

[5] With the de-industrialization of France in the 1970s, the workforce that comprised the main part of the population of Cité Gagarine began to lose its employment, and voter affiliation with the Communist Party of France declined.

Over the years, Cité Gagarine came to house more immigrants from outside of France.

[8] The start of the demolition of the housing project drew crowds and made news both in France and internationally.

[9][10][11][12] A film made by writer-director duo Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh released in 2020, Gagarine, is set on the estate as it faces impending demolition, exploring themes of isolation and community in a magical realist manner.