Known since the 16th century as the village of Voskresenskoye, it was acquired by Patriarch Nikon to serve the needs of the neighbouring Voskresensky (Resurrection) Monastery.

[8] In 1930, the town was renamed Istra (after the river which flows through it) in order to avoid the old name's religious connotations.

[9] As a result of short-term occupation during the Great Patriotic War (from November 25 to December 11, 1941), the town was severely damaged.

After the war, Istra became a center of research in the area of electrical power engineering.

[1] As an administrative division, it is, together with two rural localities, incorporated within Istrinsky District as the Town of Istra.