The construction of the settlement of Metsamor was launched in 1969, within the Hoktemberyan raion of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Following the independence of Armenia in 1991, Metsamor retained its status as an urban settlement within the newly formed Armavir Province, as per the 1995 administrative reforms.

Metsamor is located at the west of central Armenia in the Ararat Plain, at an average height of 855 meters above sea level.

The town's Saint Lazarus Church (built in 2002–05) was opened in 2005 through donations from the US-based Armenian benefactors Zaven and Azatuhi Dadekian.

The site been populated starting from the 5th millennium BC until the 18th century AD, based on excavations conducted in 1965.

Metsamor is located on the M-5 Motorway that connects Yerevan and Vagharshapat at the east with Armavir town and the northwestern Armenia-Turkey borderline near the village of Bagaran.

Mini bus vans facilitate the transport between the town and the nearby urban settlements, including the capital Yerevan.

The economy of the town is solely based on the operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant,[7] providing 40% of the country's electricity (as of 2015).

The Metsamor sports school, run by the municipality since 2008, is housed in the complex, with youth teams of football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, weightlifting, kick-boxing, karate and athletics.