The village is located adjacent to the border of Romania, some 35 km (22 mi) to the north of Galați.

Officially, Colibaşi was first documented in the year 1711, although it is thought that the village was inhabited much earlier.

It is believed that the name "Colibași" is related to the shepherds who walked their sheep flock towards this place in search for wealthy grasslands.

Once here they have capitalised on the wild steppes and the natural riches of the Prut riverside.

Kabuzan claims in his monograph "Narodonasilenie Bessarabskoi oblast i levoberejnih raionov Pridnestrovia" that the village bears the name of Colibași (or Culibași) - a name he argues is linked to Ottoman rule.