In 1784, Austrian spy Franz Pokorny in his report mention this village as a Christian settlement with 120 homes and Turkish roadhouse with capacity for 40 horses.

Great influence for economic development of this local community had mines near Vrska Cuka.

After World War Two, Grljan was headquarter of companies TIMBAS (Timok coal mines) and Investgradnja.

From 1978. there has been a unique festival of authentic music of Serbia, which gather the best artists on traditional wind instruments.

Todor Kostadinov, fighter from the First Serbian Uprising, and Radul-Bey Gligorijević, landowner and founder of Radul-begov Konak in Zaječar, are notable people from the town.